KEY POINTS
- Kohli’s dismissal for a duck in the second ODI marked his second consecutive duck in the series
- Pakistan’s current players have fewer ducks, with Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman each dismissed for a duck six times
- Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam have both recorded five ducks in ODIs
- Despite Kohli’s duck, India posted a competitive total of 264/9
- Australia sealed the series 2-0 after defeating India in the second ODI
ISLAMABAD: Indian cricket’s batting icon, Virat Kohli, has written his name in an unwelcome record after being dismissed for a four-ball duck in the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
This rare failure not only marked Kohli’s 18th duck in One Day Internationals (ODIs) but also made him the active player with the most ducks in the format.
Australia seized the opportunity to seal the series 2-0, leaving the final ODI on October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground to be a mere formality.
Kohli’s dismissal came in the most unfortunate of ways as he was trapped leg-before by Xavier Bartlett, making his first appearance of the series.
The delivery, pitched on a good length outside off-stump, caught Kohli attempting an ill-timed flick across the line, missing it entirely.
The on-field umpire had little hesitation in raising his finger, and although Kohli briefly discussed the decision with his batting partner, he had no choice but to make the walk back to the dressing room.
The crowd at Adelaide Oval, known for its passionate cricket fans, gave Kohli a standing ovation, acknowledging his immense contributions to the game.
However, the Indian star, visibly upset with his own performance, acknowledged the applause with a grimace, knowing this was a rare failure for someone of his calibre.
This dismissal marked a historic moment for Kohli, as it was his second consecutive duck in this series. Earlier, in the first ODI at Perth, he had fallen for an eight-ball duck.
The back-to-back failures were a stark contrast to his usual run-scoring prowess and a source of concern for India as they head into the final ODI.
Before this series, Kohli was tied with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Litton Das, and former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor, each of whom had 17 ODI ducks. Kohli’s 18th duck has now made him the leader in this unsavoury category among active players.
In contrast, Pakistan’s current players have managed fewer ducks in the format. Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman have each been dismissed for a duck six times, while Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam have both had five ducks in ODIs.
Despite Kohli’s setback, India posted a competitive total of 264/9 in their 50 overs. Rohit Sharma led the charge with a composed 73 from 97 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
Shreyas Iyer contributed with a solid 61 off 77 deliveries, and Axar Patel’s brisk 44 from 41 balls provided some late fireworks.
Lower-order contributions from Harshit Rana (24 off 18) and Arshdeep Singh (13 off 14) ensured that India reached a total that could challenge the Australian team.
However, Australia’s bowlers were clinical. Adam Zampa was the standout performer, taking 4 wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs.
Xavier Bartlett backed him up with three wickets, while Mitchell Starc added two key scalps to help restrict India to a manageable total.
As India prepares for the final ODI, Kohli will no doubt be looking to shake off his recent misfortunes and return to his dominant best. For now, the focus shifts to Sydney, where Australia will aim to complete a clean sweep, while India hopes to salvage some pride.
