India’s veteran cricketer Virat Kohli released a cryptic message X hours after arriving in Australia ahead of his return to ODIs in the three-match series against the hosts. Known for rarely sharing personal updates on the platform, Kohli’s ambiguous post, which came shortly after landing in Perth on October 16, sparked widespread speculation about his ODI future, especially with the 2027 World Cup on the horizon.
Amid questions about his future at the 2027 World Cup ahead of the three-match series Down Under, Kohli wrote: “The only time you really fail is when you choose to give up.” The tweet immediately went viral, with fans speculating about the meaning of his words.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have returned to international cricket in the India vs Australia ODI series starting on October 19. Speaking about the pair’s return, head coach Gautam Gambhir wished Rohit and Kohli all the best and hoped that both would enjoy their time in Australia.
“They (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) are quality players and their experience will be invaluable. With the 2027 World Cup two-and-a-half years away, it’s important to focus on the present. Kohli and Rohit are both exceptional players and their return will be a big boost. Let’s hope they have a successful tour and more importantly, the team is coming off a strong performance in India in Australia. vs series West Indies.
Gambhir’s reaction to the return of Rohit and Kohli infuriated fans who speculated whether the duo might be dropped from the ODI line-up if they had a poor series in Australia.
Reacting to Kohli’s tweet, fans speculated whether it was a statement from the batsman that he would not go down without a fight.
The Australian tour has a history of eating up big careers. The last time Rohit and Kohli came to play Down Under, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the tour ended with them being forced into Test retirement.
Virat was last on the pitch for India, managing the charge there in the Champions Trophy. In difficult batting conditions, Kohli anchored the innings for India and led them to wins in all the group stage games.
The batter has been having a great time since the ill-fated tour of Australia. In 2025, he not only won the Champions Trophy with India but also secured his first Indian Premier League title with RCB.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
October 16, 2025
