Can Virat Kohli rekindle his fire in Australia? Breaking down his recent ODI form

A break down of Virat Kohli's ODI form [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X.com]

Virat Kohli, the stalwart of Indian cricket, is set to return to the field after months long break, as he will be touring Australia for a 3-game ODI series.

Having retired from Tests and T20Is, Kohli’s services are only available in the 50-over format. Amidst retirement buzz, this series will heavily impact Kohli’s chances for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.

Ahead of the crucial tour, let’s analyse Kohli’s recent form in the ODI format.

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How has Virat Kohli performed in the last 5 ODI outings?

(Table: Virat Kohli last 5 ODI stats)

Though not playing regular cricket, Virat Kohli has shown signs of returning to form. During the 2025 Champions Trophy, he scored a total of 218 runs from 5 matches with a 54.50 average and 82.88.

He scored a hundred against Pakistan and an important 84-run knock against Australia in the semi-final.

Even at 36, Kohli can still anchor innings while keeping the run rate steady. It shows that he is still capable of building big scores under pressure. 

Virat Kohli returns to his den in Down Under

(Table: Virat Kohli's ODI stats in Australia)

Apart from being in decent form, Virat Kohli's record in Australia is another reason to be confident about. In 29 ODIs played Down Under, Kohli hammered 1327 runs at a 51.03 average, an 89.06 strike rate, 5 hundreds and 6 fifties.

However, it is also important to note that Kohli last played an ODI in Australia back in 2020. He lost his prime after that, but still, the familiarity with conditions is a plus point.

What to expect from Virat Kohli in the upcoming series?

If we consider Virat Kohli's current form, he has been consistent but not explosive, scoring as many as 40-80 runs in most games. This shows that he is looking at consistency over risk taking.

Even if these runs aren't necessarily big ones, they do help provide stability for the batting line-up and allow other young players to bat around him. Consistency is more important than anything in ODIs, particularly when chasing against a strong team like Australia.

A significant factor to take note of is the role Virat Kohli would play in the team. He would likely bat at number 3, opening the door for him to see the new ball and set the foundation.

He will also be key in forging partnerships with other top-order players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

Against Australia, staying calm and controlling the innings in the right manner will be the key, as their bowlers are capable of taking advantage of early movement and bounce.

Final thought

In conclusion, Virat Kohli will walk into the forthcoming ODI series against Australia in fine touch, having a strong past record against them. 

While his recent innings show steady rather than explosive scores, his experience, technique, and ability to anchor innings make him India’s most important batter in the series. 

If he can convert starts into big scores, India will have a strong chance of dominating the series. On the other hand, failure to capitalise on early opportunities could make the series challenging, especially on Australian pitches. 

Overall, Virat Kohli has nothing to prove. But an underwhelming series could result in devastating consequences.

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