"Demons Of BGT Back": Virat Kohli Faces Reality After Duck in Australia ODI

Perth: The first India vs Australia ODI on Sunday turned out to be a tough outing for India’s batting legends. Virat Kohli, making his comeback after over seven months, was dismissed without scoring in just eight balls—the first duck of his ODI career in Australia. While Rohit Sharma managed only 8 runs, and captain Shubman Gill added 10 as India struggled against the challenging overcast and seaming conditions at the Optus Stadium.

The Struggles of December 2024 Revisited

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan described Kohli's outing as the return of the "demons of BGT (Border-Gavaskar Trophy)," referring to the tough battles Kohli faced in the Test series Down Under last December, where he was repeatedly dismissed on deliveries outside the off-stump. "Fitness is one thing and game time is another. That is why Rohit looked a bit troubled," Pathan said.

Pathan hopes this rough phase won’t continue in the upcoming matches in Adelaide and Sydney. He praised KL Rahul’s responsible batting in the opener and suggested that Shreyas Iyer needs technical improvements after an awkward position during his innings.

Harsh Conditions, Tough Start

India’s top-order was exposed by sharp Australian bowling, particularly from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Rohit, playing his 500th international match, edged a steep bounce delivery to the slips and was out for 8 off 14 balls. Kohli, known for his mastery on Australian soil, was unable to get off the mark, driving at an outside off-stump ball from Starc that was caught superbly by Cooper Connolly at backward point.

Rain interruptions further hampered India’s chances as the innings was reduced to 26 overs, with India finishing at 136 for 9. Australia chased the revised target comfortably, with stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh scoring an unbeaten 46.

Virat's Reflection and Looking Forward

Ahead of his dismissal, Kohli had confidently addressed concerns about his fitness, saying, "I'm feeling as fit, if not fitter than I've ever been before," during a pre-match interview. However, the early failure brought those doubts back to the forefront and sparked questions about his future in ODI cricket and his fitness leading up to the 2027 World Cup.

Despite the poor start, teammates like Arshdeep Singh expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to bounce back. Singh called Kohli’s form a "term" that the veteran batter could overcome, emphasizing his professionalism and talent.

Conclusion

While the first ODI was a rude awakening for Kohli and India's top-order, the series is far from over. India will look to regroup and make adjustments as they move to Adelaide and Sydney. The return of two of their greatest players is a huge boost, but performances like Sunday’s highlight the challenges of returning to top-level international cricket after a long gap.

The cricketing world will keenly watch how Kohli and Sharma respond in the coming games, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup looming. For now, the demons of BGT seem to have returned, but the hope remains that this is just a temporary setback.