Virat Kohli records consecutive ODI ducks against Australia, first time in 17 years
text_fields
Virat Kohli’s struggle with the bat continued as the Indian cricket star was dismissed for a duck in the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday.
This marked his second consecutive duck after failing to score in the first ODI in Perth, and it is the first time since his 2008 debut that Kohli has recorded back-to-back ducks in ODI cricket.
Kohli walked out to bat in the 7th over of India’s innings. He played the first three deliveries from Xavier Bartlett cautiously, but the fourth delivery nipped back and hit his pads. The umpire raised his finger, and Kohli chose not to review the decision, ending his innings.
The Indian batter had made a much-anticipated return to competitive cricket in this three-match ODI series, alongside Rohit Sharma, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year. Prior to this match, Kohli’s ODI record at Adelaide had been impressive, with 244 runs in four innings at an average of 61.00, including two centuries, with a highest score of 107.
One of these centuries was historic, scored against Pakistan in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, making him the first Indian to achieve a WC ton against the arch-rivals. Currently, Kohli has 51 ODI centuries, equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 centuries in Tests. A single more century would make him the record-holder for most centuries in a single format.
Earlier in the match, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first. Australia had started the three-match series with a seven-wicket win in the first ODI at Perth Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead.
Kohli’s consecutive ducks come as a rare low point in an otherwise stellar career, but the ongoing series offers him a chance to bounce back and extend his record-breaking tally of centuries.