Gavaskar Dismisses Kohli ODI Exit Rumours
A duck in Perth followed by another in Adelaide has fueled intense Virat Kohli ODI retirement speculation. The chatter grew louder when Kohli, after his dismissal, turned to acknowledge the Adelaide crowd. Many fans interpreted the gesture as a hint at a possible farewell. But batting great Sunil Gavaskar has shut down those rumours.
Speaking on Sports Tak, Gavaskar pointed to Kohli’s phenomenal career numbers and urged fans not to overreact. He made it clear that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to continue until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“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,” Gavaskar said.
Crowd Reception at Adelaide Moved Fans
The Adelaide crowd gave Kohli a standing ovation as he walked in to bat, and that moment didn’t go unnoticed. Gavaskar described the crowd’s response as special, emphasizing the respect the Indian star commands even on foreign soil.
“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, recognising 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,” he added.
Gavaskar Confident Kohli Will Play On
Gavaskar also addressed the widely circulated video of Kohli’s glove salute, clarifying that it wasn’t a farewell gesture. Instead, it was simply a mark of gratitude for the supporters at a venue where he has enjoyed remarkable success.
“Virat Kohli is not the type of player who will give up this easily. Do you really think he will retire after scores of 0 and 0? Absolutely no. He will aim to retire on a high note. There is the Sydney game ahead, followed by the ODI series at home against South Africa, and there are a lot of ODIs left. I would say the 2027 World Cup will be for Kohli, 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,” Gavaskar put the speculations to bed.
With the Sydney ODI next and a full home series against South Africa on the horizon, Gavaskar’s comments indicate that Virat Kohli remains a key figure in India’s ODI plans heading toward the 2027 World Cup.
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