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Aussie ODI bowlers stick to plans to derail Kohli
Steve Larkin, AAP •  October 21st, 2025 2:17 pm
Australia's bowlers have a definite game plan for retiring Indian great Virat Kohli | Photo: David Woodley/AAP
Australia's bowlers will stick to a recently successful script in a bid to ruin Indian legend Virat Kohli's return to his happiest hunting ground.
Kohli will likely grace Adelaide Oval for the last time in Thursday's second ODI against Australia.
The Indian great has plundered five centuries in all formats at Adelaide Oval - the most of any venue in the world in his esteemed career.
Virat Kohli raises his bat after reaching his century in an 2019 ODI at Adelaide Oval | Photo: Sam Wundke/AAP
Kohli has also scored four half-centuries in Adelaide, where he averages 65.
But the Indian maestro returns to Adelaide knowing Australia will continue to squeeze him in similar fashion to last Sunday's series-opener in Perth, where he was caught at gully for a duck.
The dismissal continued a trend of Australia's bowlers concentrating on a channel wide of off-stump against the 36-year-old.
"I'm not in the fast bowling meetings, but that seems to be the way he has been getting out recently," Australian batter Matt Short told reporters on Tuesday in Adelaide.
"Some of the guys like Hoff (Josh Hazlewood) and Starcy (Mitchell Starc), they have bowled a lot against him, they know what they're doing.
"In Perth they sort of let the conditions do all the work, a bit of swing and nip on the wicket, so I'm sure they'll do the same again."
Aussie pace ace Mitchell Starc dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck in the first ODI in Perth | Photo: David Woodley/AAP
Short hoped to have an opportunity to pick the renowned cricket brain of Kohli during the three-match ODI series, which finishes in Sydney on Saturday.
Kohli and fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma won't feature in the five-game Twenty20 series to follow.
"It's pretty cool to share the field with such a legend of the sport," Short said.
"I'll definitely get the chance to have a chat to him at some stage throughout the series.
"But it's going to be a cool way for him to go out, especially with so many fans here in Australia.
Virat Kohli waves goodbye to fans after the first ODI against Australia in Perth | Photo: David Woodley/AAP
"When Rohit or (Shubman) Gill got out the other day (in Perth), and then Kohli came on, just the cheer when he was walking on - you'd feel pretty bad as the batter walking off.
"It's just an amazing experience."
Virat Kohli's all-format record at Adelaide Oval:
Matches: 12
Innings: 17
Centuries: 5
Half-centuries: 4
Runs: 975
Average: 65
Join Sport Nation’s award-winning commentary team for live ball-by-ball coverage of the Blackcaps vs England - the third T20 is this Thursday from 7pm.
