Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after the 2023 ODI World Cup Finals
This rare occurrence has sparked curiosity among cricket lovers about when the last time both players got out for single digits in the same ODI was. To satisfy this curiosity, we have compiled a simple list of all instances when both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were dismissed for single-digit scores in the same match, highlighting these unusual and surprising moments in their careers.
So far, there have been 9 times in ODI matches when both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma got out for single-digit scores. Below is the full list of those matches along with the scores they made.
The first instance when both the players bagged a single-digit score in the same match was when India faced Sri Lanka in the 3rd match of the Sri Lanka Triangular Series at Dambulla on August 16, 2010. In that match, India was chasing a modest target of 171 runs set by Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli, who had been showing promise in ODIs, was dismissed for a duck, scoring 0 off just 3 balls, caught by Kumar Sangakkara off Dilhara Fernando’s bowling.
Right after him, Rohit Sharma also struggled and was dismissed for 0, trapped lbw by Angelo Mathews after facing only 2 balls. Despite their early dismissals, India’s chase did not collapse. The responsibility was taken up by Virender Sehwag, who played a magnificent innings of 99 not out off 100 balls, while Suresh Raina contributed 21 and MS Dhoni remained unbeaten on 23. Together, they guided India to a comfortable six-wicket victory with 93 balls to spare.
Another match that got both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma out for single-digit scores was the 5th ODI between India and South Africa at Centurion on January 23, 2011. India was chasing a revised target of 268 runs in 46 overs after rain interruptions. Rohit Sharma got an early start but could not last long, scoring only 5 runs off 8 balls before being bowled by Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Soon after, Virat Kohli also struggled, making just 2 runs off 6 balls and getting caught by AB de Villiers off Morne Morkel’s bowling.
India’s top order collapsed quickly, with MS Dhoni contributing just 5 runs. Despite this shaky start, the middle and lower order, especially Yusuf Pathan, tried to steady the innings. Pathan played a sensational knock of 105 runs off 70 balls, hitting 8 sixes and 4 fours, and was supported by Zaheer Khan’s 24 runs, but it was not enough. India could manage only 234 runs, falling short of the target by 33 runs according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Moving to the third instance, when both the players were dismissed for very low scores, it happened during the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka at Hambantota on July 24, 2012. India batted first after winning the toss but struggled badly against disciplined bowling from Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India’s key batsmen, had a particularly disappointing outing. Kohli managed to score just 1 run off 5 balls before being caught by Sangakkara off Thisara Perera.
Rohit Sharma fared even worse, getting out for a duck after facing only 5 balls, bowled by Angelo Mathews. This poor start put India under severe pressure early in the innings. While Gautam Gambhir tried to steady the innings with 65 runs, and other batsmen chipped in with small contributions, India was eventually bowled out for 138 in just 33.3 overs. Kohli and Rohit’s failure at the top of the order meant that India never built any momentum and were left with a very low total to defend.
The match that no one would want to talk about saw a tough day for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the first ODI against Pakistan at Chennai on December 30, 2012. Chasing a target of 228, India started their innings but lost early wickets, and unfortunately, both Kohli and Rohit could not make an impact. Kohli faced just 5 balls and was dismissed for a duck by Junaid Khan, failing to get going. Rohit Sharma struggled as well, scoring only 4 runs off 14 balls before being caught by Mohammad Hafeez, also off Junaid Khan’s bowling.
Their early dismissals added to the pressure on the Indian batting lineup, which found it difficult to build partnerships against disciplined Pakistani bowling. While other batsmen tried to stabilize the innings, including Suresh Raina with 43 and MS Dhoni, who played an unbeaten 113, the team could manage only 227 for 6 in 50 overs. Kohli and Rohit’s quick exits were significant in the context of the game, as India lost early momentum. Pakistan eventually chased the target comfortably in 48.1 overs, winning by 6 wickets.
Being the fifth time India faced England in the 2013 ODI series, the match at Dharamsala turned into a forgettable day for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Chasing a target of 227, India lost early wickets, and Kohli and Rohit could not make any significant contributions. Rohit Sharma opened the innings but was dismissed cheaply for just 4 runs from 9 balls, caught by Tredwell off Bresnan’s bowling. Immediately after, Virat Kohli also fell for a duck, facing only 1 ball before being caught by Tredwell off the same bowler. Their quick dismissals left India struggling at 13 for 2, putting immense pressure on the middle order.
Despite efforts from Suresh Raina, who scored 83 off 98 balls, and contributions from Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, the team could only post 226 in 49.4 overs. England chased the total comfortably in 47.2 overs, led by Ian Bell’s unbeaten 113. Kohli and Rohit’s early exits were crucial in shaping the match, highlighting how even top players can have off days and how losing wickets in the powerplay can disrupt the innings.
Playing against Sri Lanka in the third match of the West Indies Tri-Nation Series at Kingston on July 2, 2013, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had a very tough day with the bat. Chasing a massive total of 349 set by Sri Lanka, India lost early wickets, and both batsmen failed to make an impact. Rohit Sharma, opening the innings, was dismissed cheaply for just 5 runs from 13 balls, caught by Angelo Mathews off Nuwan Kulasekara’s bowling.
Soon after, Virat Kohli, who was leading the team as captain, also struggled and was out for only 2 runs from 5 balls, caught by Malinga off Angelo Mathews. Their early dismissals left India in trouble at 57 for 3, making the chase almost impossible against a dominant Sri Lankan batting lineup. The rest of the Indian batting also could not handle the pressure, though Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 33 and 49 runs respectively. India was eventually bowled out for 187 in 44.5 overs, losing the match by a huge 161 runs. Kohli and Rohit’s failures at the top of the order were crucial in setting the tone for India’s collapse.
In the Finals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval on June 18, India faced a massive challenge against Pakistan, and the top order, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, struggled badly. Chasing Pakistan’s huge total of 338, Rohit Sharma was out for a duck, dismissed lbw by Mohammad Amir in the very third ball of the innings. Virat Kohli, leading the team as captain, also failed to provide stability, scoring just 5 runs from 9 balls before being caught by Shadab Khan off Amir’s bowling. Their early dismissals left India reeling at 6 for 2, and the team never recovered from this early setback.
The Indian innings continued to collapse, with Shikhar Dhawan making 21 and Yuvraj Singh scoring 22, but the pressure built by the early losses was too much for the middle and lower order. Hardik Pandya was the lone bright spot with a fighting 76 off 43 balls, but it was not enough. India was eventually bowled out for 158 in just 30.3 overs, losing by a huge margin of 180 runs.
The dream of winning the ODI World Cup 2019 was destroyed on July 9, 2019, in the semi-final against New Zealand at Old Trafford, Manchester, as India’s top order completely failed. Rohit Sharma, one of India’s most reliable openers, was dismissed for just 1 run off 4 balls, caught by Tom Latham off Matt Henry. Virat Kohli, leading the side as captain, also could not make an impact, getting out lbw to Trent Boult after scoring only 1 run from 6 balls.
Their early departures left India reeling at 5 for 4, making the chase of New Zealand’s total of 239 very difficult. The top order collapse put immense pressure on the middle and lower order. KL Rahul managed only 1 run, while Dinesh Karthik scored 6. Only Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya provided some resistance with 32 runs each. MS Dhoni tried to stabilize the innings with 50, and Ravindra Jadeja contributed a brilliant 77 off 59 balls, but it was too little too late. India fell short, finishing at 221 for 10 in 49.3 overs, losing by 18 runs.
After a gap of six years, it was the first time that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were dismissed for a single-digit score in an ODI match, and it happened on October 19, 2025, in the first ODI against Australia at Perth. Rohit Sharma, one of India’s key openers, managed just 8 runs off 14 balls before being caught by Renshaw off Josh Hazlewood. Virat Kohli, the mainstay of India’s batting and a former captain, failed, getting out for a duck off 8 balls, caught by Connolly off Mitchell Starc. Their early dismissals left India struggling at 25 for 3 in a rain-reduced 26-over game.
The lack of a strong start from Rohit and Kohli put the rest of the batting under immense pressure. Shubman Gill could only score 10, and Shreyas Iyer made 11. KL Rahul tried to fight back with 38 runs, and Axar Patel contributed 31, but the team could only post 136 for 9. The early collapses by Rohit and Kohli highlighted how crucial their performances are at the top, especially against quality pace bowling in Australia.