Virat Kohli’s rare ODI slump, heartfelt Adelaide gesture ignite fresh retirement rumours: ‘Virat Kohli is done with cricket’

Virat Kohli’s historic second consecutive duck in the India-Australia ODI series and his gesture towards the Adelaide crowd while walking back to the pavilion have once again sparked the rumours of his retirement. Kohli, who has already retired from T20Is and Tests, has found it tough to adapt to the conditions in Australia.

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On his return to international cricket after over seven months, Kohli was out on an eight-ball duck in the first ODI against Australia at Perth. On Thursday, he was dismissed for a four-ball duck by pacer Xavier Bartlett. This is the first time Kohli has been out for back-to-back ducks in ODIs.

Fans feel Kohli is inching closer to retirement

A rare blip for Kohli led to retirement rumours dominating the social media once again, as fans felt that the star batter has been rusty due to a lack of match practice.

A fan on X pointed out that Kohli is mirroring how Tendulkar ended his career as a “pale shadow” of himself after quitting ODIs in 2012, before retiring from international cricket in 2013.

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“Virat Kohli looks rusty, lack of match practice clearly showing. One can not play just 5 to 7 matches in a year and get ready for WC. Sachin in 2011 after WC win, did not go to WI, after that he struggled in Eng for match practice and later in the year in Aus and eventually retired as a pale shadow of himself,” he wrote.

Virat Kohli looks rusty, lack of match practice clearly showing. One can not play just 5 to 7 matches in a year and get ready for WC. Sachin in 2011 after WC win, did not go to WI, after that he struggled in Eng for match practice and later in the year in Aus and eventually…

— Sarcastic Dasu (@Hello_Dasu) October 23, 2025

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Another fan took to social media to thank Kohli for the “beautiful” memories. “From those gritty hundreds in both innings in his first test match as captain to this inning of 3 ball duck, both Virat Kohli and Indian Cricket have come a long way. I hope you’ll find a way back but if you haven’t then thanks for all the beautiful memories.”

From those gritty hundreds in both innings in his first test match as captain to this inning of 3 ball duck, both Virat Kohli and Indian Cricket have come a long way. I hope you'll find a way back but if you haven't then thanks for all the beautiful memories.#INDvAUS

— Right Arm Over (@RightArmOver_) October 23, 2025

While walking back to the pavilion after his dismissal at Adelaide, Kohli was also seen thanking the fans with a heart-warming gesture after being given a standing ovation despite getting out on a duck. Kohli has always done well at the Adelaide Oval, having scored 975 runs at the venue with an average of 65 in 12 matches across formats, before the Thursday game.

VIRAT KOHLI GONE FOR HIS SECOND DUCK OF THE SERIES!#AUSvIND | #PlayoftheDay | @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/jqIdvMeX9T

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 23, 2025

Probably, he was just acknowledging the fans and the crowd support, or maybe he is close to retiring, but fans felt the latter was the case.

“Bro is done, Virat Kohli is done with cricket,” a Kohli fan wrote on X.

Bro is done, Virat Kohli is done with cricket. pic.twitter.com/ScnOa1VieL

— Bruce Wayne (@nightlordbatman) October 23, 2025

Another fan said: “Virat Kohli gesture at the end probably means may be he is announcing retirement from cricket. Virat Kohli got a good standing ovation while leaving the ground. He gives a good bye gesture too.”

ViratKohli gesture at the end probably means may be he is announcing retirement from cricket.

Virat Kohli got a good standing ovation while leaving the ground. He gives a good bye gesture too.#ViratKohli #Cricket #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/NIroeLM4JS

— Mukesh Kumar Sahu (@Anchor_Mukesh) October 23, 2025

Here are some more reactions:

What this gestures from Virat Kohli means?👀 pic.twitter.com/jDVJ5J7IJI

— कट्टर INDIA समर्थक 🦁🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRWeRule) October 23, 2025

VIRAT KOHLI THANKING THE ADELAIDE CROWD. 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/cSFK2dN4tD

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 23, 2025

Virat Kohli should retire now. Gracefully accept that you can't play good cricket anymore#INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #ViratKohli

— Vishvendra (@AbsoluteVish) October 23, 2025

It would be interesting if India retain 36-year-old Kohli in the third ODI after back-to-back ducks. Many feel the third ODI will be his final international match, but the batter himself has given no such indication.