New Delhi: Team India stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma flopped on their much-awaited comeback for the national team in the first ODI against Australia
at the Perth Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19. Both senior batters returned in action for India after seven months, having last featured for the Men in Blue in the Champions Trophy 2025 in March this year.
All eyes were on the duo amid questions over their future in international cricket. While they were expected to hit the ball running from the word go, considering their experience and pedigree, both Kohli and Rohit failed to make an impact. Kohli was dismissed for a duck, while Rohit only managed 8 runs on his international comeback in the 1st ODI against the hosts.
Rohit, who opened the batting with skipper Shubman Gill on his return for India, was dismissed by pacer Josh Hazlewood in the 4th over of India’s innings after the visitors were asked to bat first in the game. Rohit, who was struggling against the Aussie pacers, was caught by Matt Renshaw at slips after edging a short length delivery from Hazlewood. He departed after scoring 8 off 14 balls with the help of a solitary boundary.
Virat Kohli bags 1st ODI duck in Australia
Kohli walked in at number 3 to a loud cheer from the fans at the Perth Stadium after India lost Rohit early in the game. However, the Team India star failed to live up to the expectations as he departed on a duck. Kohli once again got dismissed chasing an outside off delivery in Australia. He went for a drive on a pitched up, outside off delivery from Mitchell Starc and ended up getting a thick edge.
VIRAT KOHLI GONE FOR A DUCK!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/cg9GbcMRAE
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 19, 2025
The ball flew straight towards the backward point region, where Cooper Connolly dived towards his left to complete a stunning flying catch and send the Indian batter packing on a duck. It was a new low for Kohli as he recorded a duck in an ODI in Australia for the first time in his career. In his last 29 ODI innings Down Under, Kohli had never been dismissed for a duck.