Bhubaneswar, Oct. 23 -- For the first time in his international career, Virat Kohli registered back-to-back ducks and his subtle gesture afterward has fuelled intense retirement chatter.

At the Adelaide Oval, his long-time fortress where he has amassed a record 975 runs as a visiting batter across formats, Kohli's short stay at the crease ended in just four balls. As he walked back, he raised his right hand and gave a quiet wave to the crowd. The gesture, almost like a final farewell, left fans wondering: was this simply a goodbye to Adelaide, or something far more significant, perhaps signaling the end of his ODI career?

The atmosphere was emotional. Kohli received a thunderous welcome when he walked out to bat, but after his brief inn...