The second ODI against Australia delivered a shocking and unwanted first for Indian cricket as a superstar batsman Virat Kohli he recorded successive ducks in the ODI format, falling for a four-ball duck in Adelaide after his first ODI duck Down Under in Perth. This unprecedented fall instantly sent shockwaves through the fan base, ringing alarm bells about the batting maestro’s sudden drop in form and his struggles against the new ball.
While the cricket world debated his technique against michel marshIn Australia, a darker side of the Internet quickly emerged. As has become a reprehensible and shameful pattern, social media trolls mercilessly attacked his actress wife. Anushka Sharmasubjecting her to brutal and unfounded abuse and blaming her for her struggles in the countryside. The unfortunate firings reignited the toxic narrative, forcing the couple once again to face an avalanche of unwarranted criticism from a cruel section of the online community.
AUS vs IND, second ODI: Virat Kohli records historic ducks in Australia
Kohli’s double failure in the ongoing ODI series against Australia has become a big talking point, not just because of the runs he failed to score but because of the unfortunate history of cricket he now has. The second ODI at the Adelaide Oval saw Kohli depart for a four-ball duck, caught leg before the wicket by the impressive young Australian pacer. Xavier Bartlett.
This followed his earlier duck in the series opener in Perth, marking the first time in his illustrious ODI career that the batting icon has been dismissed for ducks in successive innings. This sequence of dismissals is exceptionally rare for a player of his caliber, underscoring the momentary lapse in form in the face of a dominant Australian bowling attack. Bartlett, who came into the team in place of Nathan Ellis, proved immediately effective.
After the visitors were reduced to 17/0 in six overs, following the dismissal of the Indian captain Shubman GillBartlett expertly tested the former captain. On the last ball of the over, Kohli was caught in front, a decision he accepted without review and walked away disappointed.
Despite these two recent issues, Kohli’s career average stands at a magnificent 57.41 in ODI cricket. In 304 matches, the Indian batsman owns a staggering 14,181 runs at a strike rate of 93.27, including a record 51 centuries in the format, proving that the current setback is merely a minuscule anomaly in an otherwise mammoth and flawless career. However, the momentary vulnerability of his game has given critics and trolls a temporary, if misplaced, reason to attack.
Trolls blame Anushka Sharma for Kohli’s poor form
In a disturbing repeat of history, the moment Kohli recorded his successive ducks, the focus of toxic discourse on social media immediately and unfairly shifted to his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka. This practice of blaming the cricketer’s wife or partner for his poor performance has been a dark and persistent stain on cricket fandom for years. Trolls flooded the platforms with memes and vile comments, reviving the misogynistic narrative that Anushka is a “bad omen” or a bad luck charm, directly correlating her presence or influence with Kohli’s failure to score.
This deeply ingrained pattern ignores the fundamental realities of professional sports: that a player’s performance is dictated by skill, form and game conditions, not by the presence of a family member. High-profile setbacks, like a successive odd duck, appear to act as a trigger for this online abuse, creating a public spectacle in which the actress is the scapegoat for technical failures on the field. This cruel trolling comes even though Kohli himself has repeatedly spoken out against such behavior in the past, publicly defending Anushka and urging fans to show compassion.
This is how the fans reacted:
Fangirls and her Anushka destroyed her career. They will continue to defend Anushka. This is so, so frustrating, man. I can’t even express my anger right now.
—` (@chixxsays) October 23, 2025
It is very sad that my brother has to leave Anushka at home for two weeks to get ducks in a row.
— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) October 23, 2025
I blame anushka sharma for her failure pic.twitter.com/n2EvMx5nV5
— veer (@_veerR____) October 23, 2025
He was at his peak in 2020, took a break during the BGT and that’s when the decline began
In 2023, after a brilliant year, he rested before the Eng series lost pace again.
In 2025, after a good CT and IPL, he took a break of 5 months and lost form again.
credit goes to Anushka 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/zBWTrvMmkB
– VISHU ツ (@Vishuhunyarr) October 23, 2025
Anushka Sharma ruined Virat Kohli’s cricket career 🤡
O Mat Khelo Ind A 🤡 pic.twitter.com/C8lKDl72BT
– Honest Cricket Lover (@Honest_Cric_fan) October 23, 2025
Man, you shouldn’t have married Anushka. The GOAT label comes from hunger, not from changing children’s diapers
– Hajmola Smuggler🪔 (@xlNahiHai) October 23, 2025
Chale ja London bhai apni anushka k paas 🙏 pic.twitter.com/MzxGjih4J0
– Ragaa (@Ragaa_07) October 23, 2025
Virat baby tumhe kisiko kuch prove krne ki zrurat nhi hai, tum 3rd match bhi mtt khelo ghr aajao, bche miss kr rahe hai.❤️
– anushka sharma (@GlennHitWelll) October 23, 2025
Aggregate or cry, but it’s Anushka who ate up Kohli’s run and it all started in England’s home series. pic.twitter.com/XD2Ey8edVM
—Naeem (@1eight_18) October 23, 2025
How Anushka Sharma Mocks Virat Kohli After He Crouched Twice
embarrassing ‼️#INDvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/WrGgCiDPsW— S 🕷️ (@shobhitontwt) October 23, 2025
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