Virat Kohlihis sad tour Australia he hit another low on Day 5 of the Boxing Day Test as his early dismissal went away India in dire straits in the hunt for 340 routes. Walking at 25/2, Kohli was expected to anchor the innings but his stay at the crease lasted just 29 balls.
Virat Kohli’s struggles continue as Mitchell Starc bats in the Boxing Day Test
Starc, in scintillating form, lured Kohli with a full-length delivery outside the off-stump in the 26th over, tempting the star batsman into an extended drive. A thick tip flew to the slip cord, where Usman Khawaja dived low to complete a sharp catch. Kohli’s departure for just 5 runs reduced India to 33-3, dealing a major blow to their already faltering hopes. Starc’s fiery spell, coupled with Kohli’s inability to resist playing outside the off-stump, highlighted the challenges facing India on a deteriorating Melbourne track.
Kohli’s slot came at a crucial time when India needed a solid partnership to rebuild after quick dismissals KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. Known for his expertise in pressure-packed chases, Kohli’s early exit was surprising and disappointing. With cracks opening up in the pitch and Starc exploiting them to perfection, Kohli’s lack of adaptation to the conditions stood out.
As Kohli walked back to the stand, visibly disappointed, the cameras panned to Anushka Sharmahis wife and constant presence at his matches. Her expressions of frustration mirrored the sentiments of millions of Indian supporters around the world. From nervous anticipation to visible anguish, her reactions captured the emotional weight of the moment.
Sharp criticism and online reactions
Kohli’s early exit sparked a wave of backlash online, with critics and fans expressing their disappointment. Social media was abuzz with memes and sarcastic comments, some mocking his repeated vulnerability to off-stump deliveries. Others pointed to India’s slim chances of achieving the record, attributing it to Kohli’s early dismissal. Scrutiny has intensified as analysts analyze his approach, questioning whether the shot selection was appropriate given the state of the match.
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Kohli, once hailed as the epitome of composure in the chase, came under the scanner for a miserable performance that added to the team’s woes. On 3/33 lunch and still needing over 300 runs, the pressure on the rest of the Indian batsmen increased exponentially. Yashasvi Jaiswalunbeaten at the lunch break, she was the lone bright spot amid the rubble of a top-order collapse.
Here’s how netizens reacted:
This so-called “King”, according to his PR
Virat Kohli, comes out in the same manner for the last 9 innings without any changes and the same mistakes.
Virat Kohli, shame on you and consider a good retirement#INDvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/J1VD8vXuL8— Yanika_Lit (@LogicLitLatte) December 30, 2024
Happy retirement Virat Kohli 🙏#INDvsAUS #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/b8ynBq9oA3
— Meme Fever (@meri_mrziii) December 30, 2024
YES. IT’S OVER.
The great Kohli, the one we have seen all these years, finally bids us farewell. He may still hang around for a while, but he will officially never be the same Kohli again. Tears in my eyes as I write this.
— H. 🇮🇹 (@CrissysArc) December 30, 2024
“HAPPY RETIREMENT VIRATE KOHLI”
– You will not be missed…. pic.twitter.com/y8mOv01kXW
— Gillfied⁷ (@Was_Gill) December 30, 2024
I don’t have much energy left to even argue/yell about..
What else needs to be done? Even your ego, your reputation drags and you were disapproved, it doesn’t feed you enough..
It’s infuriating to see the game of the man I adore be so rubbish these days@imVkohli
— Karthick Shivaraman™ (@iskarthi_) December 30, 2024
Kohli again reaches for a delivery on the 8th stump line and misses. I repeat that the technical defect must be fixed. Spending hours on the net practicing without correcting the flaw will not help. Just my humble opinion.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) December 30, 2024
A big 2-50 season and a 100 in 2024 @imVkohli . Averaged 22 in test, 25 in t20 wc, 19 in 3 odis 👌never thought there would be a year worse than 2020-22 mid-career. A reason not to retire and have hope?
Even home series have become an away tour for him.
— « (@KohlifiedGal) December 30, 2024
Kohli saab, not again 😖 pic.twitter.com/bLChL6xH3m
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) December 30, 2024
So Kohli scored 5 runs, 10 strikes, 15 insta edits in MSG Test🔥
The Academy is so thankful for you Kohli saab😍 pic.twitter.com/8aOTuEspz1
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) December 30, 2024
The Kohli of 2018 wouldn’t even recognize this current version of himself. All the years of hard work and legacy have resulted in pieces like this. From being better at fab 4 to this. And cause what? Lack of self-control and inability to work on past mistakes. It didn’t happen @imVkohli
— Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) December 30, 2024
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2024-12-30 04:00:00
