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Stand in Adelaide - MS Dhoni predicted what every Australian fan now believes about Virat Kohli

Akshita Patel

Virat Kohli's Adelaide love [Source: @AussiesArmy, @ms_dhoni_077/X.com]Virat Kohli's Adelaide love [Source: @AussiesArmy, @ms_dhoni_077/X.com]

If there's one ground outside India that feels like home for Virat Kohli, it’s the Adelaide Oval. It has been the stage where Kohli has repeatedly stamped his greatness, so much so that MS Dhoni once joked that a stand might be named after him there.

It all began in 2012, when a young, under-pressure Kohli scored his first Test hundred in Adelaide in what was a moment that arguably saved his place in India’s Test team. 

Fast forward to 2014, and he returned as captain in Dhoni’s absence, smashing twin centuries (169 and 144) in a match that almost saw India snatch victory. 

MS Dhoni defined Virat Kohli’s special connection with Adelaide

That game wasn’t just about runs but a glimpse of Virat Kohli, the leader, the fighter, the man who never backs down.

But perhaps his most memorable chapter at the venue came in 2016, during a T20I against Australia. 

Kohli’s unbeaten 90* off 55 balls led India to a commanding win, prompting then-captain MS Dhoni to say, “In Adelaide, they’ll name a stand after him by the time he retires.” 

And honestly, he might not be wrong. Kohli’s record at Adelaide is staggering. Across all formats, he has scored 975 runs in 17 innings, averaging 65.00, the most by any visiting batter at the ground. 

That includes 5 centuries and 4 fifties, split across formats that show his unmatched adaptability.

Whether it’s a high-pressure World Cup clash against Pakistan (2015) or a do-or-die T20I semifinal against England (2022), Virat Kohli seems to rise higher every time Adelaide calls.

Now, as Kohli prepares to step out once again at his favourite Australian venue for the 2nd ODI, fans would expect another classic innings from him, especially after he scored a disappointing duck in the first game.