Published on: Oct 23, 2025 2:59 pm IST|Updated on: Oct 23, 2025 3:05 pm IST
‘Underconfident’ and ‘Underspirited’ are two terms we never associated with Virat Kohli, but in the ongoing ODI series against Australia, this is something quite evident in Kohli’s demeanour. Getting out on a duck in the first two games of the ODI series down under in Perth, and a ground he has cherished the most with the bat, i.e., the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. It seems like Virat Kohli is fading away from the sport he elevated to the greatest heights all around the globe.
Getting out on a duck is quite a norm in cricket. Even the greatest batters in the world have been out without scoring a run, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your shoulders down and look far away from the demeanour you carry on the field. Having already retired from Test and T20I cricket, ODI is the only format Virat plays now, and it’s the format he has made his own over the years. But is he in the best frame of mind to go for glory one last time before rolling down the curtains on his illustrious ODI career?
With the performances and mindset Virat Kohli has put in the ongoing ODI series against Australia, his place in the 2027 ODI World Cup looks in complete jeopardy. With head coach Gautam Gambhir indicating that he wants a fresh group of people ahead of the 2027 extravaganza, Kohli’s place in the squad looks far from secured.
Despite a remarkable career of over 300 ODIs spanning over 17 years, Kohli appears more technically unsettled in this format now than ever before. His current form reflects a rare vulnerability that contrasts sharply with the consistency that once defined his ODI dominance. It’s worth noting that the two back-to-back ducks he scored in this ongoing ODI series are the first ever instance when Kohli has scored consecutive ducks in his ODI career.
Things are not going his way, and the break he has had for the last 5 months after the IPL 2025 hasn’t rejuvenated him at all. Virat has been quite vocal over the fact that he loves spending time with his family; everybody does, but long breaks often hamper rhythm, and this is what we are witnessing in Kohli’s game right now.
For over a decade, Virat Kohli has been the embodiment of Indian cricket’s fighting spirit, an aggressive, passionate, and relentless force who wore his heart on his sleeve and his hunger for runs in his eyes. But in the ongoing ODI series against Australia, that fire seems to be flickering. Two consecutive ducks, a first in his 17-year ODI career, have not only raised eyebrows but also questions about his mindset and future in the Indian setup.
In both those dismissals, he looked tentative, almost unsure, a far cry from the assertive batter who once dominated attacks in these very conditions. His decision not to review a close LBW call in Adelaide, despite having the option, hinted at a player not just out of form but possibly out of rhythm and conviction and raised a stern question: Is he truly eyeing the 2027 World Cup, or is he simply winding down?
With all being said, writing off Virat Kohli would be premature. He has bounced back from lean patches before, often with emphatic centuries and match-winning performances. As they say, form is temporary, class is permanent fits the current situation of Virat. But this time, the challenge isn’t just technical; it’s psychological. Kohli must rediscover the aggression that once made him a nightmare for bowlers and a beacon for the spirited fans who have never ever shied from chanting his name from the stands.
Whether he still has the hunger to fight for Team India or is slowly preparing for his farewell lap remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the cricketing world is watching, and Kohli’s next move could define the final chapter of an illustrious and legendary career.