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Virat Kohli equals unwanted record with consecutive ducks for first time in ODIs

Prachi Rajan

Virat Kohli on the way back to pavilion (Source: AP) Virat Kohli on the way back to pavilion (Source: AP) 

Indian superstar batter Virat Kohli is finally back on the field after a six-month wait, playing the ODI series against Australia. However, the cricketer is in the news for the wrong reasons, contrasting with his stature as the King of cricket. 

In the second match of the three-match series, Virat Kohli achieved a rare and unexpected moment, notably, on the same day, 23rd October back in 2022, he had accomplished the finest chases off all times against Pakistan, in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

For the first time since his international debut in 2008, Kohli has registered consecutive ducks in two games. After scoring an eight-ball duck in the 1st game at Perth, Kohli followed it up with another 4-ball duck in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval, marking an unwanted record in his otherwise illustrious career. With this, the prolific batter equaled another displeasing milestone.

Most ducks for India in international cricket: Virat Kohli now joint-second

Player
Matches
Ducks
Zaheer Khan30343
Virat Kohli55240
Ishant Sharma19940
Harbhajan Singh36537
Jasprit Bumrah21435

Virat Kohli's consecutive ducks: A rare low in a glorious career

Making his debut for India in August 2008, Kohli has become one of the most consistent and celebrated batters in modern-day cricket. Known for his remarkable ability to chase, with the unbeaten 82 off 53 balls against Pakistan at the MCG, which is etched in every Indian cricket fan’s memory, coupled with his fierce competitiveness and his unrelenting hunger for runs, Kohli’s name is synonymous with dominance across all formats.

Having said that, in the second ODI against Australia, the Indian star has fallen for another zero in two innings, an unusual sight for fans who are accustomed to seeing him roar like a lion. For a player of Kohli’s stature, ducks despite being a rare occasion shouts louder than anyone else. Having amassed 27599 international runs, Virat Kohli stands at the crossroads of his career. Hence, with Kohli now 36, every rare low point in his career tends to invite speculation about the future.

Legend under the microscope: Virat Kohli's retirement

No doubt, Kohli’s on-field intensity and off-field discipline have made him one of the fittest cricketers in the modern game. Yet, as India transitions into a new era with a younger core, questions about the longevity of senior stars, including Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are inevitable.

Notably, with major ICC tournaments, the 2027 ODI World Cup in particular, the Indian Cricket team would like to optimise the upcoming bilateral series as preparation for the big stage. That being said, all eyes will be on how Kohli responds to this setback, as speculations of Virat Kohli’s ODI retirement echo more than ever. 

On top of that, the internet is filled with netizens conjecting his retirement, with phrases like “Kohliretirement” heavily trending on X (formerly Twitter) and one fan writing, “End is very-very near guys, cherish each and every moment of Virat kohli in this tour.” 

For now, though, Virat Kohli’s consecutive ducks mark an unexpected chapter, one that has reignited both concern and curiosity about what comes next for India’s greatest modern-day batter.