India’s senior batter Virat Kohli had a forgettable outing on his return to international cricket. In the first ODI at Perth Stadium, he got out for an eight-ball duck, his first in the format on Australian soil. The second ODI will be played at Adelaide Oval, a venue where Kohli has done exceptionally well. On October 23, Kohli will have a chance to break former captain MS Dhoni’s record for most runs at Adelaide Oval by an Indian batter in the format.
From six innings, Dhoni has scored 262 runs at an average of 131, featuring three half-centuries. Kohli is slightly behind with 244 runs from just four innings at an average of 61, including two centuries. Kohli needs 19 more runs to script history at Adelaide Oval.
What happened when India took on Australia at Adelaide Oval 6 years ago?
The last time Kohli played at the venue was in 2019. As captain, he scored 104 runs from 112 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. India chased down the target of 299 with six wickets in hand and four balls to spare. In the same run chase, Rohit scored 43, his highest ODI score at the venue. Also, Dhoni scored an unbeaten 54-ball 55 to get India over the line.
Kohli’s change to surpass several legends at once
Kohli will also have a chance to move up on the list of most ODI runs scored at Adelaide Oval by a non-Australian batter. The top spot belongs to former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene with 439 runs from 11 ODIs at an average of 43.90. Jayawardene is followed by Kumar Sangakkara (416 runs), Viv Richards (353 runs), Desmond Haynes (336 runs), John Wright (335 runs), Brian Lara (330 runs), Gordon Greenidge (317 runs), Sanath Jayasuriya (298 runs), Tillakaratne Dilshan (294 runs), Aravinda de Silva (284 runs) and then Dhoni.
Kohli’s nemesis returns for 2nd ODI
While it was Mitchell Starc who got Kohli caught at backward point by bowling it away from him, it is leg-spinner Adam Zampa who has troubled the 36-year-old more in the format. Away from first ODI due to personal reasons, Zampa will play in Adelaide, replacing left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann. The experienced leg-spinner was dismissed Kohli six times from 22 ODIs.