Virat Kohli's Never-Seen-Before Celebration After Ending Streak of Ducks Goes Viral

After recording back-to-back ducks for the first time in his illustrious ODI career, Virat Kohli walked out to bat in the third and final ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday under immense pressure. What followed was a moment that cricket fans had never witnessed before—Kohli celebrating a simple single run with a triumphant fist pump, revealing just how much those two consecutive zeros had weighed on him.

Walking in after Shubman Gill's dismissal in the 11th over, Kohli was greeted with a rousing standing ovation from the SCG crowd, filled with thousands of Indian fans waving the tricolor. Facing his first delivery from Josh Hazlewood, he stepped forward and elegantly clipped the ball through mid-wicket for a quick single. As soon as he completed the run, Kohli turned back toward his partner Rohit Sharma, pumped his fist, and flashed a cheeky smile—a mix of relief, amusement, and sheer emotion.

For someone who has scored 51 ODI centuries—the most by any player in history—celebrating a single run seemed almost surreal. But it perfectly captured the mental pressure Kohli had been under after failing to get off the mark in Perth and Adelaide. The Sydney crowd roared as if he had just scored a hundred, and chants of "Kohli! Kohli!" echoed around the ground.

Ashwin's Warning and the Pressure on Kohli

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had earlier expressed concern about the mounting criticism Kohli would face if he failed again in Sydney. "I really hope he comes back and gets a score in Sydney. What happened to Rohit today, Virat Kohli needs it in Sydney because, in India, we don't discuss why we lost; more often, we discuss because of whom we lost. Before people start pointing fingers, I hope Virat scores the runs," Ashwin said on his YouTube show.

Ashwin also highlighted his worry about the manner of Kohli's dismissal to Xavier Bartlett in the second ODI, suggesting that Kohli's inability to read the line properly could be a deeper technical concern.

Kohli's Redemption Knock

Kohli didn't just get off the mark—he went on to play a composed, match-winning knock of 74 not out off 81 balls, hitting seven boundaries. Partnering with Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant unbeaten 100, Kohli stitched together a 168-run stand that guided India to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory.

Speaking after the match, Kohli gave a brutally honest assessment of his struggles: "You might've played international cricket for a long time, but the game shows you ways. Almost 37 in the next few days, but chasing always brings the best out of me. Nice to have a big match-winning partnership with Rohit."

He also reflected on the enduring partnership with Rohit, saying, "We've understood the situation well from early on. Back in the day when we were young, we knew we could take the game away with big partnerships. It all started in 2013 against Australia. We've loved coming to this country and playing some good cricket."

A Moment That Defined Resilience

While the series was already lost, Kohli's redemption in Sydney was about more than just runs. It was about silencing doubts, proving his class, and reminding everyone why he remains one of the greatest to ever play the game. That fist-pump celebration for a single run will go down as one of the most human and relatable moments in cricket—a reminder that even legends feel the heat.