Parthiv Patel’s tweet after India’s defeat in the 2nd ODI has taken a wild turn (Images via AP & Getty Images)

Hours after India lost the second ODI against Australia, speculation arose around Virat Kohli’s future in international cricket following a tweet from his former India teammate Parthiv Patel. The latter posted a brief message reading, “Sydney it is!!” which fans interpreted as hinting at Kohli possibly retiring from ODIs after the series concludes in Sydney. The speculation intensified given Kohli’s recent struggles at the crease, having been dismissed for ducks in both the first and second ODIs of the series. After his dismissal in the second match, Kohli acknowledged the crowd with a raised-glove gesture, which some fans perceived as a potential farewell signal.

Parthiv Patel on X

However, over 13 hours later, Patel responded to a fan’s query about the tweet and the retirement rumours, posting a simple clarification: “not at all!” Kohli, who has already retired from T20Is and Tests, now focuses on the third and final ODI in Sydney, aiming to turn around a challenging series. India lost the second ODI by two wickets, leaving them unable to prevent a series defeat against Australia. Despite the back-to-back low scores, Kohli remains an integral figure in India’s ODI setup, and fans will be keenly watching his performance in Sydney as he seeks to end the series on a high note. Patel’s clarification has settled concerns, confirming that Kohli is not stepping away from ODI cricket – at least not according to him.

The focus now shifts to Kohli’s efforts with the bat in Sydney, where both the team and fans hope for a strong performance in the concluding match of the series.