The much-awaited comebacks of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were turned into disappointments as their least effective batting contributed to India’s 7-wicket defeat in Perth on Sunday. The former Indian captain managed just 8 while Kohli registered his first-ever ODI duck Down Under. A collective batting failure saw India crawling to 136 in the game which was reduced to 26 overs aside after multiple rain interruptions. Australia faced no difficulty chasing a revised 131 target and picking up 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted the struggles of the stalwarts – Rohit and Kohli – who last played for India in March 2025. Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Pathan opined that lack of game time impacted
the performances of Kohli and Rohit.
“Fitness is one thing, and game time is one thing. That is why Rohit looked a bit troubled. It looked like the demons of the BGT were back for Virat. I hope this is not the case in Adelaide and Sydney. KL Rahul batted well today. Shreyas Iyer got into an awkward position. Maybe he can work a bit more on his technique. Axar does well whenever he gets an opportunity to bat ahead,” Pathan said.
The former cricketer believed that it’s always better to arrive early and play practice matches, underlining the struggles of Indian batters.
“Whenever you tour such countries, it is always better to go early and play some games. It was going to be difficult for India. It was going to be a challenge as the conditions would not be easy. Our bowlers could not get the right lengths. The batters also had trouble with the bounce. If you had played a game or two, these mistakes would not have happened. It is important to think about these things going forward,” Pathan said.
Australia’s pacers exposed India’s veterans as Rohit Sharma (8) and Virat Kohli (0) fell cheaply on a bouncy Optus track. Rohit’s 500th match ended with Hazlewood’s rising delivery, while Starc’s outswinger consumed Kohli for his first duck in Australia, leaving both seniors seeking redemption in upcoming ODIs.
(With PTI Inputs)
