Perth: Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has advised Virat Kohli to steer clear of overthinking and self-criticism following his dismissal for a duck in the first India vs Australia ODI at the Optus Stadium, Perth, on Sunday.
Kohli, returning to ODIs after nearly seven months, edged a delivery from Mitchell Starc while playing outside the off-stump. Speaking on Star Sports, Hayden said that despite the rare failure, Kohli’s experience and proven technique make him a formidable player.
“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. He plays the ball on the rise and finds timing early,” Hayden said.
“One thing I hope he avoids is arguing with himself and overthinking, which can lead to mistakes. He is destructive when he has clarity and confidence—qualities his experience provides,” he added.
Australia won the opening match by seven wickets, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The second ODI will be played on Thursday in Adelaide.
Meanwhile, India pacer Arshdeep Singh came out in support of Kohli, praising his consistency and composure.
“He has played more than 300 matches for India, so form is just a word for him,” Arshdeep said at the post-match press conference. “It’s always a blessing to share the dressing room with him. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of runs for him in this series.”
When asked about Kohli focusing solely on ODIs at this stage of his career, Arshdeep remained tight-lipped:
“He has mastered this format. I’ll ask him about how he feels and maybe tell you next time,” he said with a smile.