Virat Kohli may have had a forgettable outing with the bat in his return to ODI cricket, but it was a quiet, unspoken gesture before the first ball that won him admiration online.
As India lined up for the national anthem ahead of the opening ODI against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium, Kohli — one of the sport’s most accomplished figures — subtly stepped aside and motioned for Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer to take the front of the line. Gill, making his ODI captaincy debut, and Iyer, named vice-captain, were nudged forward by Kohli in a moment captured on camera that quickly went viral.
The way Virat Kohli call captain Shubman Gill and vice captain Shreyas Iyer to move forward for national anthem ❤️pic.twitter.com/h8GmjuSkRU
— GillTheWill (@GillTheWill77) October 19, 2025
Kohli can be seen stepping aside to allow India’s ODI captain, Shubman Gill, and ODI vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, to take the field first for the national anthem.
The understated act was interpreted by fans and commentators alike as a symbolic passing of the torch from one generation of Indian leaders to the next. Kohli, who was making his first ODI appearance since India’s ICC Champions Trophy win in March, appeared upbeat throughout the pre-match build-up — joking with teammates and helping set a relaxed tone — even as the match ended in a seven-wicket defeat for India.
Rough return for Kohli, Rohit as India stumble in series opener
Expectations were high heading into the match, with the return of Kohli and Rohit Sharma to India’s ODI setup after a seven-month hiatus. But neither veteran batter delivered with the bat.
Kohli was dismissed for a duck after facing eight deliveries, caught brilliantly at point by Cooper Connolly off Mitchell Starc. It was the first time Kohli had been dismissed for 0 in an international match in Australia, and Starc became only the second bowler — after England’s James Anderson — to dismiss him for a duck twice across formats.
Rohit, meanwhile, lasted just 14 balls in his 500th international match for India. He edged a Josh Hazlewood delivery to debutant Matthew Renshaw at second slip, falling for 8 runs. Earlier in the powerplay, Gill too managed only 10, while Iyer added 11 from 24 deliveries before being caught behind by Josh Philippe off Hazlewood.
India posted 136/9 in their allotted 26 overs in the rain-curtailed match. Australia, chasing a revised target of 131, eased to victory in 21.1 overs, with stand-in skipper Mitchell Marsh leading from the front with an unbeaten 46.
A symbolic shift in leadership
While the scoreboard didn’t reflect much to cheer about for India, Kohli’s pre-match gesture stood out as a powerful moment of transition and respect. The quiet act — not staged or scripted — appeared to acknowledge the beginning of a new leadership era under Gill and Iyer.
Must-win match ahead in Adelaide
India now faces a must-win situation heading into the second ODI on Thursday, October 23, at the Adelaide Oval. A loss there would hand Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The Indian team management could consider tactical changes for the Adelaide clash. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who was the highest wicket-taker in both the Asia Cup 2025 and the India-West Indies Test series, may be drafted into the XI to bolster the bowling attack.
As India looks to bounce back, eyes will once again be on both performance and leadership — with Kohli’s subtle gesture in Perth already setting the tone for how the transition in Indian cricket may quietly unfold.
