NEW DELHI: The return of two of India’s biggest cricket stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to the ODI setup was the talk of the town ahead of the first match against Australia in Perth. But while fans eagerly awaited the on-field action, it was Kohli’s subtle act of leadership that stole the spotlight and quickly went viral on social media.

Aakash Chopra urges patience for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after Perth ODI

Virat Kohli’s gesture of support for young leaders

Before the match at Optus Stadium, as both teams lined up for the national anthem, Kohli paused and motioned for India’s current captain, Shubman Gill, and vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, to step forward and lead the team formation.

Here's the video:

The gesture, simple yet meaningful, was widely interpreted as a symbolic passing of the torch and a public endorsement of the young leadership duo. Fans flooded social media praising Kohli’s humility and his focus on fostering a strong team environment, even as he returned to the squad as a frontline batter.

Disappointing start for the veterans

However, the on-field return for both Kohli and Sharma couldn’t match the heartwarming moment off it. In a rain-affected clash, India suffered a seven-wicket defeat under the DLS method. Kohli was dismissed for a duck in his first ODI since the Champions Trophy final, while Sharma too failed to make an impact.

The Indian batting lineup struggled to set a challenging target in the reduced-overs game, leaving the returning stars’ comeback overshadowed by the team’s overall poor performance.