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Hot Take: Australia, the perfect place for Virat Kohli to hang his boots in ODI Cricket

Anurag Dasgupta

Virat Kohli's legacy in Australia [Source: AFP Photo] Virat Kohli's legacy in Australia [Source: AFP Photo]

Is there a greater ODI batter than Virat Kohli in the history of cricket? Perhaps not. The Delhi cricketer revolutionised the format and became the master of chasing through his sheer skills and the hunger to score more runs than his peers. However, when a player becomes a professional cricketer, a time comes when he needs to bid adieu to the game, and that time has come for Kohli.

The Australia ODI series is yet to start, and the rumours have already started about his ODI retirement. Reportedly, the team management does not see Kohli and Rohit Sharma being in the ODI scheme of things for the 2027 World Cup, and the upcoming Australia tour could be their last.

Of course, the Indian fans would love to see Kohli travel to South Africa, for one last time in an ODI jersey in 2027, but perhaps god has better plans and there is a reason why the Australia tour could be a fitting last series for the greatest batter of this generation.

Down Under, the perfect farewell for King Kohli

Think about it, name that one particular country that loves Kohli more than India? The answer is Australia. The Australians see him as their own and have time and again stated that Kohli has the Australian traits on and off the field.

When Kohli lands Down Under, the country erupts in joy, and the Indian star is given VIP treatment. It’s as if he has a love-hate relationship with the Australian crowd, and despite them mocking Kohli on several occasions, the people there know his true value, something that is missing with the Indian crowd, and as a result, he moved to England.

The love-hate relationship started in 2012 when Kohli showed a middle finger to the Australian crowd, and became their public enemy number one. On the next tour in 2014, he became India’s flag bearer in Tests as the Test captain smacked 692 runs, and it included four stellar centuries against the best attack in the world.

When Kohli smacked 4 centuries in Australia [Source: AFP] When Kohli smacked 4 centuries in Australia [Source: AFP]

Adelaide became his favourite hunting ground as he smashed twin tons during his 2014 tour, and scored a fine century against Pakistan at the same venue during the 2015 World Cup. This also attracted interest from MS Dhoni, who cheekily stated that when Kohli would retire, he would get a stand at the Adelaide Oval ground.

1542 runs Test runs in Australia, 1327 runs ODI runs, Down Under, and 747 T20I runs define his legacy in Australia, and hence, the Australia tour could be a fitting farewell for the genius, ie, Virat Kohli. Once the public enemy number 1, Kohli has become a media darling in Australia, and it would be the perfect place for the King to finally relinquish his ODI crown and to step away from his favourite format.

This is certainly his last Australian tour, and the Indian fans should gear up for a teary-eyed farewell as Kohli could potentially decide to call it a day in ODIs.