Srinagar: Virat Kohli’s return to international cricket turned out to be a forgettable one, as the Indian batting icon was dismissed for a duck against Australia in the first ODI at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday. Facing a probing new-ball attack under overcast skies, Kohli struggled to get going before mistiming a drive to point in just his eighth delivery — his first appearance for India since the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
Australia’s decision to bowl first proved spot-on, with India’s top order collapsing early. Rohit Sharma (8), Shubman Gill (10), and Kohli (0) all departed within the first powerplay as rain interruptions and movement off the pitch made batting increasingly difficult.
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden, speaking on Star Sports, came to Kohli’s defence while offering a word of caution. He praised Kohli’s unmatched consistency and precision in ODIs — where he has amassed over 14,000 runs — but urged the veteran to stay mentally composed and avoid self-doubt.
“Virat Kohli’s timing and shot execution are world-class. After scoring 14,000 runs in this format, there’s hardly anything to question about his technique. What he needs is clarity — when he’s not overthinking, he’s unstoppable,” Hayden said.
The Australian legend emphasised that Kohli’s greatest weapon has always been his clarity under pressure. “He just needs to trust his instincts. When he argues with himself or second-guesses decisions, that’s when mistakes creep in,” Hayden added.
Chasing a revised DLS target of 131, stand-in skipper Mitchell Marsh led Australia’s charge with an unbeaten 46 off 52 deliveries, guiding his side to a comfortable seven-wicket win. The result handed Shubman Gill a tough start to his ODI captaincy tenure, while India’s batting frailties under seaming conditions once again came under scrutiny.
