Following India's disappointing performance in the first ODI against Australia in Perth, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has voiced concerns about the form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Pathan suggested that Kohli's struggles might be a continuation of his difficulties from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), while Rohit Sharma appeared troubled due to a lack of game time.
In the match, India's top order collapsed, with Rohit Sharma scoring 8 and Virat Kohli dismissed for a duck. This was Kohli's first duck in an ODI in Australia. Shubman Gill also failed to make an impact, scoring only 10 runs. KL Rahul (38) and Axar Patel (31) offered some resistance, but India could only manage 136/9 in a rain-interrupted innings. Australia chased the target comfortably, winning the match by seven wickets.
Pathan analyzed the performances, pointing out that Rohit Sharma seemed uneasy, possibly due to insufficient match practice. He also noted that Kohli's dismissal was reminiscent of his struggles during the BGT, where he was often caught behind or in the slips while chasing deliveries outside off stump. "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," Pathan said on his YouTube channel. He expressed hope that this would not be the case in the upcoming matches in Adelaide and Sydney.
Other cricket experts have also weighed in on the performance of the two veterans. Mohammad Kaif suggested that Kohli and Sharma should have arrived in Australia earlier to acclimatize to the conditions, as lack of game time seemed to have affected their rhythm. Sunil Gavaskar defended the pair, arguing that the challenging surface made it difficult for all batsmen. Harbhajan Singh said that the pair have earned the right for some leeway on the back of their consistent exploits over the course of their careers.
Pathan also highlighted the importance of acclimatization when touring countries like Australia. He suggested that playing a couple of games before the main matches would help the players adjust to the conditions and avoid mistakes. He added that the Indian bowlers also struggled with their lengths, and the batsmen had trouble with the bounce.
The defeat in the first ODI has raised concerns about the form of India's senior players. With the series still to be decided, it remains to be seen how Kohli and Sharma will respond in the remaining matches.
