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Virat Kohli at SCG is no less than a recipe for disaster! Decoding his worrying ODI record

Akshita Patel

Virat Kohli awaits a tough test at Sydney [Source: @KohliSensation/X.com]Virat Kohli awaits a tough test at Sydney [Source: @KohliSensation/X.com]

Sydney is synonymous with its sunny skies, vibrant crowd, and batting conditions. However, for Virat Kohli, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has never been so friendly.

Indian legend, regarded by many as one of the all-time great ODI batsmen, curiously boasts one of his worst results at this iconic ground.

For a batter who has made a habit of turning pressure into performance, this statistic is puzzling. Whether it’s the extra bounce, the pace attack, or just plain bad luck, Sydney has consistently found a way to halt Kohli’s usual rhythm.

Virat Kohli has the lowest average of his ODI career at SCG

Criterion
Stats
Matches7
Runs
146
Average24.33
Strike Rate82.95
50/1001/0

(Table: Virat Kohli ODI stats at SCG)

In 7 ODIs that Virat Kohli has played at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), he’s scored 146 runs at a modest average of 24.33 and strike rate of 82.95. 

Compare that to his stellar performances at other Australian venues. He averages over 50 at Adelaide and more than 60 at Melbourne. Clearly, Sydney breaks the pattern.

Lowest ODI average by Kohli at a venue 

  • 24.33 at Sydney
  • 24.60 at Cuttack
  • 27.00 at Dambulla
  • 29.00 at Chinnaswamy 
  • 29.80 at Ahmedabad

His average of 24.33 is the lowest at any venue in his ODI career. Cuttack (24.60), Dambulla (27.00), and even Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy (29.00) rank slightly higher. 

Considering SCG’s reputation as a batting paradise, Kohli’s record there feels even more surprising.

What’s going wrong for Virat Kohli in Sydney?

There are a few possible explanations. The SCG pitch, while good for batting, often grips just enough to trouble right-handers early on. Spinners, too, tend to get more purchase here than at most Australian venues, and Kohli has occasionally fallen trying to play against the turn.

Another factor is Australia’s clever bowling plans. Over the years, bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa have targeted Kohli by mixing tight lines with subtle variations. 

Zampa, however, has bowled Kohli out 6 times in ODIs and appears to have a psychological advantage over him on Australian soil.

Add the weight of expectation every time India plays in Sydney, and you have the perfect storm, one that even a legend like Virat Kohli hasn’t been able to weather.

Can Kohli break the Sydney jinx?

As India prepares for the 3rd ODI against Australia at the SCG, all eyes will once again be on Virat Kohli. After back-to-back ducks earlier in the series, the pressure is immense. 

Fans are waiting for a big response, and there could be no better place for redemption than the ground that has haunted him for years.

A solid innings in Sydney won’t just help India end the series on a high; it could also rewrite Kohli’s personal script at this ground. 

After all, if there’s one thing cricket has taught us, it’s to never count Virat Kohli out for too long.