Virat Kohli received a standing ovation at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as he walked out to bat, and the roar got even louder when he finally got off the mark after two consecutive ducks in the series.
Facing Josh Hazlewood, who had just dismissed Shubman Gill for 24, Kohli took guard under immense pressure. On the fourth delivery he faced, Hazlewood bowled a 139.9 km/h full delivery, which Kohli clipped neatly towards midwicket for a quick single. The crowd exploded in cheer as the Indian stalwart pumped his fist and smiled — a rare emotional reaction from the usually composed batter.
It was a small but significant moment, considering Kohli had endured a rough return to international cricket after 224 days, managing back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs of the series.
The SCG crowd, aware that this could be Kohli’s final international innings in Australia, gave him a hero’s welcome. Even the commentators noted the emotion in the moment, calling it a “symbolic single that means more than any fifty right now.”
Earlier, Gill departed for 24 (26), caught by Alex Carey off Hazlewood, leaving India at 69/1 after 10.2 overs. Skipper Rohit Sharma continues at the other end, steadying the chase with a patient 32 off 39 balls as India looks to reach 237.
Kohli now has the chance to silence critics and end the series on a high — and for fans, seeing him smile again after those two early exits was already a moment to remember.
