Australia’s Matt Short Issues Warning to Virat Kohli Ahead of 2nd ODI in Adelaide

Australian all-rounder Matt Short delivered a pointed warning to Virat Kohli ahead of the second ODI against India at the Adelaide Oval, emphasising that Australia's pace attack would relentlessly target the Indian batting maestro's perceived weakness outside off-stump. Kohli, returning to international cricket after a seven-month hiatus following the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, endured a dismal re-entry in the series opener in Perth on October 20, where he was dismissed for a golden duck by Mitchell Starc's swinging delivery angling across him. Despite the flop, Kohli garnered thunderous applause from the Perth crowd, a gesture Short acknowledged as a fitting tribute to a global icon. With India trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, the Adelaide clash on October 24 becomes pivotal, especially at a venue where Kohli boasts an illustrious record of five centuries across formats.

Short, who himself notched a gritty 52 in Perth's low-scoring thriller that Australia won by 47 runs via the DLS method, revealed insights into the Australian bowlers' game plan during a media interaction in Adelaide. "I'm not in the fast-bowling meetings, but that seems to be the way he has been getting out recently," Short remarked, alluding to Kohli's recurring dismissals chasing wide deliveries in recent outings. He praised spearheads Josh Hazlewood ("Hoff") and Starc ("Starcy") for their familiarity with Kohli, honed through years of Border-Gavaskar Trophy battles.

In Perth's seaming conditions, the duo exploited natural swing and seam movement, dismissing key Indian batsmen early and restricting them to 183 for 9. Short predicted a similar blueprint in Adelaide, where pacers historically thrive under lights, potentially neutralising Kohli's aggressive strokeplay that has yielded over 1,500 ODI runs at the ground.

Kohli's return has reignited discussions on his form dip, with averages hovering below 40 in ODIs since 2023, contrasted by his storied legacy of 13,906 runs and 50 centuries—the joint-most with Sachin Tendulkar. The 36-year-old's absence stemmed from personal commitments and workload management post-India's T20 World Cup glory, but his Perth failure amplified scrutiny ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle.

Australia's strategy echoes past successes, like the 2023 ODI World Cup final where Kohli fell to a wide Hazlewood inducer. Short balanced his caution with respect, calling it "pretty cool to share the field with such a legend," and expressed eagerness for a post-match chat. He noted the warm Australian reception, underscoring Kohli's cross-border fandom that could swell the 50,000-capacity Adelaide crowd.

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As India, led by stand-in skipper KL Rahul, recalibrates for the must-win encounter, pacers like Jasprit Bumrah will seek revenge on Australia's fragile middle order exposed in Perth. The series, part of bilateral commitments before the 2025 Champions Trophy, tests Australia's depth sans retired stalwarts like Steve Smith in ODIs. For Kohli, redemption in Adelaide—his "happy hunting ground"—could silence doubters and propel India toward levelling the series. With forecasts predicting overcast conditions favouring seamers, the duel between Australia's quicks and Kohli's resilience promises high drama, encapsulating the timeless rivalry that defines Indo-Australian cricket.

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