Xavier Bartlett’s return to the Australian national team has been both a professional triumph and a personal challenge. While his performance on the field drew praise from teammates and pundits, it also invited a wave of online backlash from passionate Indian cricket fans — all because he dismissed their beloved hero, Virat Kohli.

Kohli’s farewell tour of Australia has taken a grim turn, with the superstar suffering consecutive ducks for the first time in his illustrious ODI career. After Mitchell Starc sent him packing in Perth during the opening match of the series, Bartlett replicated the feat in Adelaide on Thursday, marking another rare low in Kohli’s otherwise glittering record.

What followed was an avalanche of emotion from Indian fans on social media. Starc’s Instagram posts were flooded with thousands of comments, many expressing frustration over Kohli’s dismissals. Even unrelated posts — like a Sydney Sixers announcement for the Big Bash League — were swamped with nearly 7000 comments, filled with Kohli and Rohit Sharma references. Bartlett soon found himself on the receiving end of the same treatment.

The young bowler’s last post on Instagram, shared in August after wrapping up his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was suddenly revived by Kohli’s fans. Within hours of the Adelaide match, more than 3500 new comments appeared — a mix of criticism, gifs, and emotional tributes to Kohli. For Bartlett, the reaction was as intense as it was unexpected.

Yet, despite the backlash, the 26-year-old remained respectful of the Indian legend. Immediately after dismissing Kohli, Bartlett spoke with admiration rather than triumph.

“Probably one of the best white-ball players of all time,” Bartlett said during a drinks break. “Lucky to get him, I tried to bowl an outswinger and it nipped back. Probably a bit of pure luck but nice to see the back of him early.”

The gesture highlighted the mutual respect that often exists between competitors at the highest level — a quality that fans sometimes overlook amid the emotional intensity of international cricket.

Bartlett’s recent experiences reflect both the global reach and the pressures of modern cricket. Earlier this year, he broke into the IPL with Punjab Kings, taking two wickets across four matches. While his debut in cricket’s biggest commercial league was modest, it gave him a glimpse into India’s deep cricketing culture — one defined by passion, loyalty, and, at times, volatility.

That passion was on full display in Australia this series. Even as Kohli’s struggles continued, Indian supporters followed him with relentless devotion. Footage of fans crowding the gates in Perth, hoping to catch a glimpse of the star, went viral. Former Australian great Mark Waugh described the phenomenon as both astonishing and admirable.

“In my era it was Sachin Tendulkar and now it’s Virat Kohli,” Waugh said on Fox Sports. “People just come to watch him. Sometimes they’re not even worried with India and what they’re doing — it’s all about Virat Kohli. He’s just a phenomenal player and the fans love him.”

Kohli’s magnetic presence continues to captivate cricket followers across the world, including his opponents. Many Australian players have spoken of the privilege of sharing the field with one of the modern greats.

“It’s pretty cool to share the field with such a legend of the sport,” said Australian opener Matt Short. “I’ll definitely get the chance to have a chat to him at some stage throughout the series. But it’s going to be a cool way for him to go out, especially with so many fans here in Australia.”

Short also highlighted the overwhelming energy Kohli commands in every venue he plays. “When Rohit or (Shubman) Gill got out the other day (in Perth), and then Kohli came on, just the cheer when he was walking on — you’d feel pretty bad as the (Indian) batter walking off. It’s just an amazing experience.”

But while Kohli’s popularity remains unquestioned, his current form has raised concerns. The Adelaide duck marked his second in a row after falling to Starc in Perth, and doubts are beginning to surface about how long he can maintain his elite standards in ODIs.

Kohli’s final match on Australian soil for this tour will be at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday, in the third and final ODI before the teams shift focus to a five-match T20 series. For Kohli, who has already stepped away from Tests and T20 internationals, ODIs represent his last active format for India. His eyes are reportedly on the 2027 World Cup — if he can sustain form and fitness until then.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri, however, urged caution. “It’s a long way off,” Shastri said. “There’s a lot of cricket, about 20 games to be played. He’ll have to get some form pretty quickly. India play three games against South Africa and three against New Zealand at home so that’s a good opportunity to get some runs under the belt. The same with Rohit (Sharma).

“The competition with places are such in India that no one’s going to relax, whether it’s Virat or Rohit or anyone in the team. Because it’s not going to be easy, there is competition. He’s missed out again today, he was a little tentative with his footwork, the ball’s nipped back on. It doesn’t happen often, his record in one-day cricket is phenomenal — so for him to get two ducks on the trot, he’ll be disappointed.”

Meanwhile, Mark Waugh believes that despite his dip in form, Kohli’s personality and intensity have earned him admiration from Australian fans. “They know an outstanding cricketer when they see it,” Waugh said. “The way he plays the game, he’s a fierce competitor. A little bit different from the Indians historically, they don’t have that aggression like Kohli. His competitive nature, I think the Australians love that. That’s a big part of any sport and they see that in Virat Kohli.”

For Bartlett, this incident is a reminder of how cricket’s global stage can be both rewarding and unforgiving. His dismissal of Kohli was a career highlight — a scalp any bowler would cherish — but it also brought the unwanted attention of millions of fans emotionally tied to their hero’s legacy.

Still, Bartlett’s calm response and gracious respect toward Kohli have earned him quiet admiration from the cricket community. His journey is only beginning, and if anything, this episode proves he is capable of handling both the highs and lows of elite international cricket.

As the series moves to Sydney, all eyes will once again be on Kohli — not just to see if he can break his duck streak, but to witness how a legend fights back against adversity. And for Bartlett, the experience of dismissing one of cricket’s greatest — and enduring the firestorm that followed — may well be a defining moment early in a promising international career.