AUS vs IND 2025: ‘He’ll bring the old Virat back’ - Abhishek Nayar confident of veteran’s comeback after Perth debacle

Former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said that veteran batter Virat Kohli will not let the eight-ball duck on his return to India colours haunt him for long. However, Nayar believes Kohli won’t make major adjustments to his technique before regaining form.

The right-hander’s much-awaited return to competitive cricket after a four-month break ended in disappointment for Indian fans last Sunday in Perth. Kohli was tied down by seven successive dot balls before Australian pacer Mitchell Starc

delivered the decisive blow.

Nayar feels Kohli’s trademark tenacity and mental strength will help him bounce back quickly without overthinking his technique or approach. The 36-year-old fell victim to an off-side trap, chasing a delivery angled across him, and was dismissed for an eight-ball duck after a diving Cooper Connolly completed a sharp catch at point.

“Whatever time I have spent with him, he knows how to play in one way only, with passion and aggression. He will back himself. There will be a lot of discussions about him playing deliveries outside the off-stump. He will go back and visualise. He will meditate and come into his zone,” Nayar said on Star Sports.

“He will try to get back the thought process of the old vintage Virat Kohli. He will try to get that mindset. He will try to play with freedom. The result is not in your hands. He will pay attention to the process. Whatever he has been known for, he will try to bring that Virat to the ground,” he added.

Nayar also weighed in on Kohli’s challenges against Australia’s potent pace duo of Starc and Josh Hazlewood, noting that a solid start from openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma would allow Kohli to settle in more comfortably. India will be hoping for a strong comeback after a harrowing defeat in Perth when they face Australia in the second ODI in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23.

“I would want him to win, but I always believe that you don’t prepare for failure but for success. Whomever you ask, they will say that when Virat comes, the attempt will be to bowl back of the length outside off-stump, with short balls in between. Virat and the opposition know that,” Nayar said.

“It’s about execution and handling pressure. It’s about the start you get. If Virat comes to bat after Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have scored 70 runs in the first 10 overs, the case is different. If he comes at the start, the case is different,” he added.