NEW DELHI: Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has offered a word of advice to Virat Kohli after the star batter’s disappointing outing in the first ODI against Australia in Perth. Playing his first ODI since March 2025, Kohli was dismissed for an eight-ball duck by Mitchell Starc as India slumped to a seven-wicket defeat in the rain-hit contest.
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Hayden said there is little reason to doubt Kohli’s batting craft, pointing out that his timing, control, and ability to find gaps early in an innings make him one of the finest ODI batters in history.
“Virat Kohli's striking ability and contact points are exceptional. After scoring 14,000 runs in this format, there's little to question about his approach, as he consistently plays the ball on the rise and finds timing early,” Hayden said on Star Sports.
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The former Australia opener, however, cautioned that Kohli should not get caught up in over-analysis after a rare failure, as it could affect his natural rhythm and clarity at the crease.
“One thing I hope he avoids is arguing with himself and overthinking, which can lead to mistakes. He is destructive when he has clarity, certainty, and the ability to read the game—qualities his experience provides,” he added.
Kohli, who struggled with an eight-ball duck in Perth, will be eager to bounce back strongly when the series moves to Adelaide on Thursday. With India trailing 0–1, the spotlight will once again be on the veteran batter to lead the revival and rediscover his fluent touch in familiar Australian conditions.
