AUS vs IND 2025: ‘Could see him a little bit itchy' - Ex-Australian after Virat Kohli's duck in Perth ODI

Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh remarked that Virat Kohli’s body language suggested he was likely to fall soon in the first ODI at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Sunday, October 19. The star batter was dismissed for an eight-ball duck in his highly anticipated return to international cricket after a seven-month break. Waugh highlighted the challenges even experienced batters face when returning to international cricket after a long break, particularly under challenging conditions against a high-quality pace attack.

Kohli walked in at No. 3 following Rohit Sharma’s early dismissal in the fifth over, tasked with negotiating the new ball on a lively Perth surface under overcast conditions. He faced Australia’s pace duo Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who tested his technique from the outset. Kohli was struck on the pads by his first delivery, and Starc followed up with a maiden over, keeping the batter under pressure.

The 36-year-old struggled to find the gaps and time the ball effectively during his brief stay at the crease. In the penultimate ball of the fifth over, he nearly lost his wicket while attempting to play a delivery outside off stump but survived. However, the reprieve was short-lived, and Kohli was dismissed soon after in a manner similar to his earlier close call.

"You could almost feel his dismissal coming with the pressure building on Virat Kohli. As experienced as he is, you could see him getting a little bit itchy," Waugh told Fox Cricket during the game.

Kohli was dismissed off the very first ball of the seventh over, attempting to take the initiative against Starc in a bid to get off the mark. He went for an uppish drive against a full-length delivery moving away from him but only managed a thick outside edge, which flew to point, where Cooper Connolly took a superb catch.

This dismissal marked Kohli’s first duck in an ODI in Australia and his first overall since the 2023 ODI World Cup against England at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.