At the Adelaide Oval, a venue filled with nostalgia for Indian fans, a murmur turned into an online frenzy. Virat Kohli, usually calm and intense in equal measure, walked back to the pavilion after a four-ball duck — his second in two games.
The sight of him raising his gloves toward the crowd caught every eye. It looked emotional and almost poetic, and soon, fans on social media spread a wave of retirement talk. However, Sunil Gavaskar reminded everyone that the story was quite different.
Speaking to Sports Tak, the former Indian captain dismissed every rumour of retirement. He said a player with more than 14,000 ODI runs and 52 centuries doesn’t quit after two poor innings. Gavaskar reminded fans that Kohli has always made strong comebacks and often draws energy from failure.
He explained that Kohli didn’t signal farewell in Adelaide; he simply showed gratitude by acknowledging applause from both Indians and Australians. The Adelaide crowd, known for its respect for great players, stood up for Kohli and gave him a heartfelt ovation. Gavaskar said Kohli recognised the affection from fans in a city that had witnessed some of his best knocks.
The Indian number 3's dismissal, though, carried a sting. He walked in after Shubman Gill lost his wicket to Xavier Bartlett and looked determined to leave anything outside off stump. Three balls later, a jagging delivery from Bartlett cut back in and trapped him in front of the wicket. The crowd’s warmth met his disappointment as he walked off. Gavaskar said that moment showed emotion, not an ending. He insisted that Kohli still has much to give, and Sydney now waits for his response.
“Look, the man has more than 14,000 runs, 52 ODI centuries, and I think 32 Test centuries. He's scored thousands and thousands of runs, so he's allowed a couple of failures. Don't read too much into what has happened — there's plenty of cricket left, plenty of cricket ahead. Maybe Sydney will see a big innings from him. Adelaide, of course, has been his favorite ground in Australia, both at the Test level and in ODIs. He's scored hundreds there, so naturally, everyone was expecting a big one here as well. But that didn't quite happen.”
“What a wonderful ovation he got when he walked out to bat. It was truly heartwarming because the majority of the crowd were Australians. Yes, there were lots of Indians there, but most of the crowd were Australians, recognizing what he's done for the game. That ovation was really, really special. No, it's not the end. Look, where he was going — where the players come down from — is where the members' stand is. The members' stand is where former players, administrators, and others sit. I think he was just acknowledging the ovation they were giving him.”
“Virat Kohli is not the type of player to give up after two ducks. He will aim to retire on a high, playing in Sydney, followed by the ODI series in South Africa, and then the 2027 World Cup alongside Rohit. Even the Australians would have been disappointed — they didn't get to see a big score from Virat Kohli. I think he was simply acknowledging the crowd with his gloves. Normally, when you get a big score, you acknowledge it with your bat raised, or your helmet or cap off. But this was just his way of thanking the crowd for the reception and the ovation they gave him. Don't read too much into it.”
Sydney Awaits the Real Answer
Gavaskar’s belief carries weight. Kohli has never stepped back after setbacks. He often finds his rhythm in Sydney, and this time, the 36-year-old can remind everyone that his fire still burns bright. The former captain believes Kohli wants to finish his career in his own way, not with silent exits, but with bold centuries.
Sydney may witness a more assertive Kohli, one who starts strong and bats with freedom instead of caution. The frustration from Adelaide might push him harder. Gavaskar expects him to continue his story through the South Africa series and even into the 2027 World Cup alongside Rohit Sharma. That attitude defines Kohli best: resilience mixed with pride. He may have missed twice, but he usually answers loudly. Sydney might just echo it.
