AUS vs IND 2025: He will try to get back the thought process of the old vintage Virat Kohli, says Michael Clarke

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli fell victim to a familiar foe on Sunday, October 19, in Perth, as he attempted to drive a ball outside off stump and was caught at point. Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke noted that it was the extra bounce that induced the edge, adding that if the same delivery had been played in India, Kohli would likely have creamed it for a boundary.

The top-order batter was dismissed by Mitchell Starc for a duck, marking the first time he has been dismissed for zero on Australian soil in 30 ODI innings. Clarke feels that Kohli will be eager to regain his form and make an impact against the Australian bowlers in the upcoming second ODI at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 23.

“That muscle memory of just game after game, which he has done for 15 years, but then have six months off and play in very, very foreign conditions is hard. If his first game back was in India, I think he’s straight back into it. But because he’s in Australia, that shot he played, in India he cover drives that for four,” Clarke said on Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.

“Here, it bounced and hit him a bit higher on the bat, he’s out in front of himself and gets caught at backward point. So, their top three, for them to get out like that, sort of sums up their play throughout the game. Their bowlers tried to get their lengths right and some mixups in the running, so they were just underdone,” he added.

Kohli will back himself: Nayar

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said that Kohli will not let the eight-ball duck on his return in India colours haunt him for long, but he would not make major changes to his game as he works his way back into form.

“Whatever time I have spent with him, he knows how to play in one way only, with passion and aggression. He will back himself. There will be a lot of discussions about him playing deliveries outside the off-stump. He will go back and visualise. He will meditate and come into his zone,” Nayar said on Star Sports.

“He will try to get back the thought process of the old vintage Virat Kohli. He will try to get that mindset. He will try to play with freedom. The result is not in your hands. He will pay attention to the process. Whatever he has been known for, he will try to bring that Virat to the ground,” he added.

The Delhi batter will be banking on his abilities to deliver the goods come the second match in Adelaide, a ground where he has scored runs for fun.