Former Australian captain Matthew Hayden has advised Indian stalwart Virat Kohli to maintain faith in his technique following a subpar performance in the Perth ODI. Despite Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggling in their return to ODIs, Hayden emphasized that one failure should not shake Kohli’s confidence in his established skills that have brought him consistent success in ODIs, especially in Australia.
Kohli and Rohit, making their international comebacks after a seven-month hiatus, were dismissed for 8 and 0 runs respectively in Perth, with Kohli’s innings ending quickly. Hayden, speaking to Star Sports after Australia’s victory, highlighted the importance of Kohli trusting his technique as India readies for the second ODI in Adelaide on October 23.
Hayden praised Kohli’s exceptional striking ability and contact points, pointing out his impressive track record of 14,000 runs in ODIs. He urged Kohli to avoid self-doubt and overthinking, emphasizing that clarity, certainty, and game-reading abilities, all enhanced by experience, are crucial for Kohli’s destructive batting prowess.
In his recent ODI performances, Kohli has been focusing solely on ODIs after retiring from T20Is and Tests. Before the Perth match, he had a consistent run in 2025, scoring 274 runs in six matches, including notable innings against Pakistan and Australia. Kohli remains a vital asset for India despite the Perth setback.
As India heads to Adelaide for the second ODI, where Kohli has excelled historically, the team will look to Kohli and Rohit to bounce back. Their past performances at the venue and in recent ODIs indicate their potential to make significant contributions and stabilize India’s batting lineup, which showed vulnerability in the Perth match. Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also expressed optimism about potential redemption from Kohli and Rohit in the upcoming ODIs against Australia.
Both Kohli and Rohit have the opportunity to rediscover their form in Adelaide, drawing on their experience and past successes to bolster India’s batting lineup. The team will rely on their capabilities to deliver impactful performances and steer India towards a better showing in the upcoming matches.
– Ends