Is this a sign that a great chapter in Indian cricket is coming to an end? The much-awaited India vs Australia second match of the ODI series got off to a disappointing start for India. Virat Kohli once again fell in front of the Australians at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. In the first match of the series, he was dismissed for a duck in Perth, and the cricketing world had questioned his form. When he came out to play in the second match with high expectations, he was trapped LBW and dismissed without scoring a single run. In his ODI career, this is the first time Virat Kohli has been dismissed for two consecutive ducks. The back-to-back failures are raising questions about his form in the must-win match.

Virat Kohli Continues his Struggle against Australia

The second match starts with Australia winning the toss and choosing to field first. Batting first, India lost their potential batters Virat Kohli and Shubhman Gill early. After the dismissal of Gill, India was hoping for a good performance from Virat, but he once again fell under the pressure from Australia and got out for his second duck. He stepped out to play with reliance; however, Xavier Bartlett got him LBW, and he returned for zero after facing just 4 balls. India were at 17-2 when Kohli departed. This is the first time in history that Virat Kohli has been dismissed for consecutive ducks in his international career. As a top ODI batter, continuous falling makes an impact on the Indian cricket team, and it should be analyzed.

Backing After Struggles

After the first match of the series, Virat and Rohit’s poor performances raised questions about their form, and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak expressed their confidence in both players for the upcoming match.

"You don't write off champion players ever. These two have been among the best, and while I've said before that Virat's the best 50-over player I've ever seen, you don't write them off," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast.

"They'll find a way to contribute and win games for their team, and if they do that, they'll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027. I'd expect to see both those guys bounce back into it pretty quickly. Adelaide is a great place to bat and a great place to play cricket. But it won't be easy for the fact that they are facing some of the best white-ball bowlers that have ever played the game," he continued.

India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, had opened up about their preparations for the second match after struggling in the first against Australia.

"I don't think there was any rustiness. They played the IPL, and their preparation has been very good. I think both of them have a lot of experience. Even before coming to Australia, So I think it's too early to even think like that," Kotak said.

"We were very much aware of what preparations they were doing and their fitness status. They sometimes go to the National Cricket Academy. We get updates and videos from there, what they're doing, their practice routines, fitness work," Kotak explained.

He even mentioned the rain interruptions in Perth affected the team's batting performance.

"I think it would have been the same if Australia had batted. When you don't know how many overs you're going to bat, it's not easy to plan with four or five rain breaks. Going in and out every few overs, it's difficult.  I think it was more about the weather, to be very honest. In the last game, obviously, we lost a couple of wickets early, but I'm not really thinking too much about it," Kotak stated.

Is This the Beginning of the End of an Era?

The run chaser Virat Kohli has showcased his power against Australia in different formats. When the India vs  Australia ODI series entered the second match, he was still holding the record for the most centuries in the format with 51 centuries. His aggressive batting and consistency made a landmark in the international arena. However, after a short break, he couldn’t make a comeback against Australia. The consecutive ducks show his inconsistency in the game. He should consider returning in full form for the upcoming games. His lack of adaptability and attention led to his early dismissal. After his dismissal, Kohli lifted his right hand and waved quietly at the crowd. His gesture almost looked like a farewell. The cricket world is considering it as a sign of retirement from the ODI?