Virat Kohli managed 0 in 8 balls in his first ODI on comeback for India.
While Rohit managed 8 runs, Kohli had a poor comeback to international cricket, scoring 0 in eight balls as India was 52/4 in 16.4 overs when rain interrupted the game for the umpteenth time in Perth.
Ravi Shastri interviewed Kohli before Sunday's opening match of the India-Australia ODI series and asked him about why he becomes even more aggressive and fierce when playing in Australia.
Returning to the international circuit after more than six months, the Indian legend said he enjoyed the spirit of the game in Australia during those early mornings and thought it would be a source of pleasure for him to succeed there.
“Growing up, watching cricket as a kid when we used to wake up early and watch Test cricket in Australia, you could see the ball flying off the pitch and the opposition in your face, and I used to feel, ‘Wow, if I were able to step up in these conditions and against this opposition, that’s something I could be proud of as a cricketer.’ That’s the motivation for me to watch all the greats of our game from either side. Guys like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and even Virender Sehwag, guys whom I really looked up to," Kohli told Fox Cricket.
Kohli remarked that the hostility from the Australian players and the crowd was easier to see on television than being involved in it.
“Even the Australian setup, how they played their cricket, and how they were in your face all the time, intimidating and taking the game on—that was something that really inspired me to come here and do the same. Early on, I found it was easier to watch on television than be part of that hostile environment, but I am really grateful for all those times because that shaped me as a cricketer and as a person as well,” he added.
In the interview, Adam Gilchrist stated that Kohli was frequently the 'villain' for the Australian audience, regularly engaging with them and responding to their provocation. He admitted that he didn't comprehend the heckling before receiving some valuable advice from one of the greats on how to prosper down under.
“I didn’t understand it initially, to be honest. But guys like Kevin Pietersen, who copped it before, told me something about Australia: that you feel like they are at you the whole time, but at the back of their minds and hearts they really appreciate that you are standing up and playing that kind of cricket," Kohli said.
“So, don’t take it personally; don’t take it to heart. You just go out there and play competitive cricket. You will realize how good you are as a cricketer, and you will realize over a long period of time how it really shapes up and makes you mentally as a player. I have nothing but gratitude for those experiences as a player. The crowd being at me really brought out the best in me,” he stated.
(Fox Cricket inputs)