Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has shared his honest views on the disappointing batting performance of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the first ODI against Australia in Perth. Both senior players were making a much-anticipated return to international cricket but could not deliver the impact fans expected.
🏏 Poor Start for India’s Star Batters
In the opening ODI, India struggled with both bat and ball.
Virat Kohli was dismissed for zero after facing just eight deliveries.
Rohit Sharma, who was recently removed as India’s ODI captain, managed only eight runs before getting caught at slip.
This poor start put India under pressure, and the team eventually lost the match.
💪 Rohit’s Fitness vs. Match Practice
Irfan Pathan pointed out that while Rohit Sharma looked fitter than before, he was short on match practice. Rohit had worked hard on his fitness in recent months, reportedly losing nearly 10 kilograms before returning to the national team.
However, Pathan felt that fitness alone cannot replace time spent in real matches.
“Fitness is one thing, and game time is another,” Pathan said. “That’s why Rohit looked a bit troubled.”
According to Pathan, Rohit struggled against the swinging new ball in overcast conditions, something that regular match practice could have helped him handle better.
⚡ Kohli’s Technical Issues Resurface
Pathan also commented on Virat Kohli’s early dismissal, saying that he seemed to be repeating mistakes seen during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) earlier this year.
Kohli has often been vulnerable to deliveries pitched just outside the off-stump (the fifth-stump line), especially in fast and bouncy conditions. In Perth, he once again chased a ball away from his body, getting caught at point without scoring.
Pathan remarked,
“It looked like the demons of the BGT were back for Virat. I hope this is not the case in Adelaide and Sydney.”
🙌 Praise for KL Rahul and Axar Patel
Amid the criticism, Pathan also highlighted the positive performances in India’s innings.
He praised KL Rahul for showing composure and technique in difficult conditions and appreciated Axar Patel’s steady contributions in the middle order.
