Imagine this: Virat Kohli walks back to the pavilion without scoring. Not once, but twice in a row. The man who made it happen? A 26-year-old Australian bowler most fans had never heard of until yesterday.
Who Is Xavier Bartlett?
Xavier Colin Bartlett isn’t your typical cricket star. Born in Adelaide but raised on Queensland’s Gold Coast, this right-arm fast bowler took an unusual path to fame:
- Made first-grade debut at 17 for Gold Coast Dolphins
- Battled back stress fractures that nearly ended his career
- Became Big Bash League’s top wicket-taker in 2023-24
- Bought by Punjab Kings for just ₹80 lakh in IPL 2025
| Career Milestone | Year | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| ODI Debut | 2024 | 4/21 vs West Indies |
| BBL Breakthrough | 2023-24 | 20 wickets @ 14.70 avg |
| IPL Debut | 2025 | Punjab Kings signing |
The Ball That Shocked A Billion Fans
October 23, 2025 will forever be remembered in cricket history. Here’s how Bartlett turned the Adelaide ODI upside down:
- 7th over: Dismisses captain Shubman Gill with his first ball
- Next four balls: Traps Virat Kohli LBW for golden duck
- Result: India crashes to 42/2 in crucial match
Bartlett to Kohli – OUT!
The young quick gets the massive wicket!
Watch the #AUSvIND ODI series live on Kayo Sports: https://t.co/examplelink
Why This Dismissal Matters
Kohli’s back-to-back ducks marked his first-ever pair in international cricket. For Bartlett, it announced his arrival on the global stage. Former players couldn’t believe their eyes:
“No one will believe a player of Virat’s caliber had two failures like this,” said Zaheer Khan on Cricbuzz. “But great players have these phases – it stops here.”
Fan Fury Explodes Online
Within minutes of Kohli’s dismissal, social media erupted. Bartlett’s Instagram flooded with 3,500+ angry comments on old posts. Fans shared:
- “How dare you dismiss King Kohli!”
- “Enjoy your 15 minutes of fame”
- “We’ll remember this in the IPL!”
Yet many praised the young bowler’s skill. Bartlett himself called it “pure luck” while admitting Kohli is “one of the best white-ball players of all time.”
From Hospital Bed To Hero
Bartlett’s journey makes his success sweeter. In 2020-21, stress fractures threatened his career. “I couldn’t walk properly for months,” he revealed in a Cricket Australia interview.
His comeback stats tell an inspiring story:
| Period | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-injury | 12 | 15 | 8.20 |
| Post-comeback | 24 | 42 | 6.95 |
What’s Next For Bartlett?
With the IPL season approaching, all eyes will be on Bartlett when he joins Punjab Kings. Teammates are already buzzing:
“He’s got that X-factor,” said Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan. “That ball to Kohli? We’re lucky to have him.”
As for Kohli? He’ll face Bartlett again on October 27 in the series decider. One thing’s certain – no one will underestimate the blonde-haired paceman from Queensland anymore.
