Virat Kohli’s Struggles At Adelaide Oval
Virat Kohli, despite his stellar record in Test cricket, has had some forgettable performances at Adelaide Oval. Let’s revisit those instances where the Indian batting maestro struggled.
Virat Kohli has a remarkable Test record in Australia, particularly at the Adelaide Oval, where he has delivered some of his most memorable performances. Known for his batting prowess, Kohli has scored three centuries and a half-century at this venue, with an impressive average before the second Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). However, even the best players have off days, and Kohli is no exception.
Here are three occasions when Virat Kohli could not make a significant impact in a Test innings at Adelaide.
Seven Runs off Eight Balls – 2nd Test, BGT 2024-25
In the ongoing second Test of the BGT 2024-25 series, Kohli was dismissed cheaply on Day 1 after India had already lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in the first session. Walking in at 69/2, Kohli was expected to steady the innings.
He started with a boundary off Scott Boland, but his stay at the crease was short-lived. Mitchell Starc delivered a sharp ball in the 22nd over, which Kohli edged to Steve Smith in the slips. The star batter managed just seven runs from eight deliveries, leaving India struggling at 82/4 by the Tea break.
Four Runs off Eight Balls – 1st Test, BGT 2020-21
The infamous pink-ball Test during the 2020-21 BGT series was a tough one for India, especially in the second innings. After scoring a solid 74 in the first innings, Kohli failed to replicate his form in the second.
India collapsed for a historic low of 36, with Kohli contributing only four runs from eight balls. Facing Pat Cummins, Kohli struck a single boundary but couldn’t build on it and was dismissed as India suffered a shocking defeat.
Three Runs off 16 Balls – 1st Test, BGT 2018
During the first Test of the 2018 series in Adelaide, India batted first and posted 250 runs thanks to Cheteshwar Pujara’s gritty century. Unfortunately, Kohli had a rare failure in this innings.
He managed only three runs off 16 balls before being dismissed by Pat Cummins. Kohli attempted a big shot, but an excellent catch by Usman Khawaja ended his stay at the crease. This dismissal put India under pressure early on in the game.
Also Read: BGT 2024-25: Key Changes India Made For The Adelaide Test