3 times Virat Kohli failed to score big in a Test innings in Adelaide ft. BGT 2024-25
Virat Kohli has a fabulous Test record against Australia in their backyard. Adelaide, in particular, has been a happy hunting ground for the former India skipper.
Before the start of the second Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test, Kohli had 509 runs in Adelaide from four Tests and eight innings, with an impressive average of 63.62. He also has three Test hundreds at the venue along with a half-century.
Adelaide has been one venue where Virat Kohli has performed well more often than not. His brilliant display in 2014 comes to mind, when he scored hundreds in both innings on his Test captaincy debut. However, there have also been occasions where he has failed to get going in a Test in Adelaide.
With his century in Perth in the first Test of the ongoing series, expectations from Kohli were high coming into the Adelaide Test. However, he failed to get to double figures in the first innings, with India struggling at 82/4 at the Tea break on Day 1 (December 6). This was among his rare failures in Adelaide.
On that note, let us look at the three times when Virat Kohli could not get a big score in a Test innings in Adelaide.
3 times Virat Kohli failed to score big in a Test innings in Adelaide
#3) 7 off 8, 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test
In the ongoing second Test between Australia and India in Adelaide, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul in the opening session, with the score being 69.
Virat Kohli then walked into bat and was expected to handle the pressure and face the Australian attack to bail India out of early trouble. He got going as early as on the fourth delivery of his innings, collecting a boundary off Scott Boland. However, it was a streaky shot which he got away with.
Kohli, however, did not last long as he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc on the first ball of the 22nd over. He edged one behind to Steve Smith at slips and was sent back for just seven runs off eight deliveries.
#2) 4 off 8, 1st BGT 2020-21 Test
Going back to the infamous Adelaide Test during the 2020-21 BGT series, Virat Kohli incurred another rare failure at the venue. In the first innings, he was India's top-scorer with a well-made 74.
The second innings for the hosts, however, turned out to be a complete nightmare as no batter could survive the Australian onslaught. India were bowled out for just 36 runs and then-skipper Virat could not save the ship from sinking either.
The visitors lost early wickets upfront and just could not recover. Virat managed to score just four runs and was dismissed after facing eight deliveries. Although he struck a boundary, he failed to get going as Pat Cummins got the better of the former Indian skipper.
#1) 3 off 16, 1st BGT 2018 Test
During India's tour of Australia in 2018, the first Test was played in Adelaide where Virat Kohli had another of those forgettable outings. The visitors batted first and put up 250 runs, courtesy of a fighting hundred from Cheteshwar Pujara.
The rest of the Indian batters, including then-captain Kohli, could not contribute much to the scoreboard. Kohli could not even get to double figures as his stay at the crease lasted just 17 minutes.
Virat scored three runs from 16 deliveries before he was caught by Usman Khawaja off Pat Cummins. Kohli went after the delivery lashing hard, only to edge it to Khawaja, who pulled off a stunning catch as the visitors lost their third wicket.