Ahead of the crucial third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on October 25, 2025, former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has offered valuable advice to Virat Kohli, emphasizing the importance of rotating the strike. Kohli, who is making his return to international cricket after India's Champions Trophy win in March 2025, has struggled in the first two ODIs, recording consecutive ducks for the first time in his career.
Pathan believes that Kohli's form is crucial for India and that his ability to rotate the strike will be key to his success. Speaking on JioHotstar, Pathan said, "Virat Kohli's form is important. He needs to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard moving. Because once he starts doing that, it becomes very difficult for any opposition to stop him. I hope Virat starts rotating the strike quickly, gets some runs on the board, and once that happens, there's no looking back for him". Pathan pointed out that Kohli has been getting stuck at one end, which is unusual for him, and that this has contributed to his struggles.
Kohli's recent dismissals have been uncharacteristic. In the first ODI in Perth, he edged a Mitchell Starc delivery and was out for a duck. In the second ODI in Adelaide, he was dismissed LBW by Xavier Bartlett, also for a duck. These failures have led to increased scrutiny and discussions about his form. Some critics have even suggested that his career might be nearing its end.
The SCG match presents Kohli with an opportunity to regain his form and contribute valuable runs to India's total. The Indian team has already conceded the three-match series to Australia, making the final ODI a dead rubber. Despite the series outcome, a strong performance from Kohli would be a significant boost for both the player and the team.
Adding to the discussion, Aakash Chopra, another former Indian cricketer and commentator, suggested that India might benefit from including Kuldeep Yadav in the Sydney ODI, as the pitch tends to favor spin. "Three fast bowlers might not be needed in Sydney, because it is generally a spin-friendly pitch," Chopra stated. He believes that Kuldeep Yadav could exploit the conditions and create wicket-taking opportunities in the middle overs.
India's pace bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, have taken six of the eleven wickets in the series so far. Arshdeep leads the pace attack with three wickets, while Rana has two. Mohammed Siraj has taken one wicket. Abhishek Nayar, another former India cricketer, emphasized the importance of the Indian pacers making full use of the conditions in Australia and making an early impact with the new ball.
With the series already decided, the focus shifts to individual performances and strategic adjustments for the final ODI. Irfan Pathan's advice to Virat Kohli highlights the importance of strike rotation in overcoming his current struggles. Aakash Chopra's suggestion to include Kuldeep Yadav reflects the potential advantage of utilizing spin on the Sydney pitch. As the Men in Blue prepare to face Australia at the SCG, all eyes will be on whether Kohli can implement these strategies and finish the series on a high note.
