Sydney, Australia - Despite Virat Kohli's recent struggles, including two consecutive ducks in the ongoing ODI series against Australia, former Australian captain Michael Clarke has boldly predicted that the Indian star will emerge as the top scorer in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Clarke shared his insights on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, expressing confidence in Kohli's ability to bounce back.
"I'm going to go with Virat Kohli for leading run-scorer in this game," Clarke stated, backing Kohli to overcome his poor form.
Kohli's recent performances have been below par, especially for someone of his stature. In the first ODI in Perth, he was dismissed for a duck, and he repeated the unwanted feat in the second ODI in Adelaide. This marks the first instance in his ODI career where he has recorded consecutive ducks.
Despite the recent slump, Kohli's overall ODI record remains exceptional. He has amassed over 14,000 runs at an average of nearly 58, including 51 centuries. He also stands on the cusp of surpassing Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history, needing just 54 more runs.
However, Kohli's form at the SCG has been a concern. In seven ODIs at the venue, he has scored only 146 runs at an average of 24.33. His highest score at the SCG is 89, which he scored against Australia in 2020.
Clarke also predicted that Josh Hazlewood would be the leading wicket-taker in the Sydney ODI and that India would win the match. "I'm going to say India win, so 2-1, India win," Clarke said.
India will be aiming for a consolation win in the final ODI after Australia secured the series 2-0. The pressure will be on Kohli to perform and regain his confidence ahead of the T20I series.
Kohli's return to international cricket after a long break has not gone as planned. Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif suggested that Kohli should play more matches to regain his form, drawing a comparison with Shreyas Iyer, who has maintained consistency by playing in India A matches.
Despite the concerns, there is still confidence in Kohli's ability to bounce back. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting stated that one should never write off champion players like Kohli.
The final ODI between Australia and India at the SCG on October 25th is sold out. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli to see if he can live up to Clarke's prediction and deliver a match-winning performance. The match starts at 2:30 PM AEDT.
