Virat Kohli to retire soon? rumours getting strong; fans claim gesture indicates farewell

ADELAIDE: Speculation about former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s retirement has grown stronger after he was dismissed for a duck in the second ODI against Australia. Returning to the Indian team after a seven-month break, Kohli has failed to score in both matches of the series. He faced eight balls for zero in Perth and four balls for zero at his favourite ground, the Adelaide Oval. So far, he has faced 12 balls in the series without scoring a single run.

Kohli has already expressed his wish to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup multiple times. At present, he represents India only in the 50-over format. The star batter retired from T20 cricket in 2024 and from Test cricket earlier this year. Fans are now worried whether they will get to see him in the Indian jersey again after this ODI series, or if this could be the end.

Rumours about Kohli’s retirement started spreading after he got out for a duck in the Adelaide ODI. The main reason behind the speculation is that he raised his gloves and acknowledged the crowd while walking back to the pavilion- a gesture many took as a farewell. Some fans believe the former captain knows very well that he cannot continue in poor form for long.

However, another section of fans argues that Kohli’s gesture was simply a thank-you to the Adelaide crowd, as this might have been his last match at the ground he loves the most. They say it should not be linked to retirement. Either way, fans are hoping that Kohli will return to form and shine with the bat in the final match of the series.