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 commented that Virat Kohli’s body language indicated that he was likely to fall soon in the first One-Day International at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19. The great batter was knocked for an eight-ball duck in his much-anticipated comeback to international cricket after a seven-month absence. Waugh emphasized the difficulties that even veteran batsmen confront when returning to international cricket after a long absence, particularly in demanding circumstances against a high-quality pace attack.

Kohli stepped in at No. 3 following Rohit Sharma’s early removal in the fifth over, tasked with handling the new ball on a lively Perth pitch in cloudy conditions. He faced Australia’s pace combo Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who taxed his technique from the start.

Virat Kohli was struck on the pads by his first ball, and Starc followed up with a maiden over to put the batter under pressure.

Throughout his brief stint at the crease, the 36-year-old struggled to find gaps and time the ball well. He almost lost his wicket in the fifth over’s penultimate ball when trying to hit a delivery outside off stump, but he survived. However, Kohli’s reprieve was short-lived, and he was dismissed shortly after in a way similar to his previous 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.