Virat Kohli and the Adelaide Oval - A mesmerising love story while it lasted.

It was the Australian summer of 2011. India were already 3-0 down and a whitewash under MS Dhoni was inevitable. This was just a couple of months after India lifted the ICC cricket world cup at home, but were staring down the barrel in Australia. 

Though they lost the last test at Adelaide as well, a young aggressive player from Delhi was the silver lining. Few knew that this was the beginning of a statistical love story between Virat Kohli and the Adelaide oval. Overcoming a hell lot of verbal volleys and bullying, he scored a riveting century and made a robust statement. 

Then came the defining moment. Getting captaincy in 2014 and scoring those twin hundreds, and even though it came in the losing cause, it announced his arrival on Australian soil. The series was lost, but a bigger battle was won. 2016 too was a defining year as Kohli smacked his highest T20 international score on his favourite ground as India whitewashed the hosts 3-0 in their own territory.

2018 again was the start of another defining moment as Adelaide was chosen yet again for the opening test match of the Border Gavaskar trophy. Unlike the last time, India pipped the hosts and not only won the opening test, but also the series for the first time in 71 years. Virat Kohli became the first test captain to script history and his favourite ground laid the foundation for that.  

But as every love story has some elements of tragedy, this one had too. The post COVID border gavaskar trophy opener saw India being bowled out for their lowest ever test score of 36 and Kohli was forced to return home for the birth of his 1st child. India though pulled off a series win for the ages and carried Kohli's legacy forward. 

After nearly a decade-and-a-half of momentous triumphs and special memories, it had come to an end with a whimper. Xavier Bartlett played villain this time and ensured that Virat Kohli’s final walk back to the Adelaide 

oval pavilion was as quick as his walk to the pitch. 

As fans, we can only thank the King for the lion hearted memories he has given us throughout the years and the Adelaide oval will certainly miss his antics throughout the years.