Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has figured out the reason behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's sloppy show with the bat in the first ODI against Australia. Pathan believes that the batting superstar's batting struggles were primarily due to a recent lack of competitive cricket. The veteran duo struggled to make an impact upon their seven-month return to international action, both falling cheaply in the series opener in Perth. The most recent top-tier competition for Virat and Rohit before the Australia tour was the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Their international comeback presented an immediate challenge, as they faced dominant Australian pacers on a lively, overcast pitch. Rohit Sharma was quickly dismissed for eight runs by Josh Hazlewood, while Virat Kohli registered an eight-ball duck off the bowling of Mitchell Starc shortly after. This clear lack of game time and the resulting rustiness became a major focus of discussion following India’s top-order collapse and their eventual seven-wicket defeat.
Kohli, Rohit have to do the things that are needed, you have to play matches: Pathan
Pathan further stressed that there is simply no substitute for game time. He suggested that the legendary pair are hurting their own cause by stepping into significant international assignments without having had sufficient match practice beforehand.
"We will never judge Rohit and Virat by their performances, and no one should as well, because they are great players. But you have to do the things that are needed, you have to complete the processes, you have to play matches. In this regard, they have fallen behind. If they had played some matches before coming, and shown some form, the team management might have thought seven batters are enough, and we can include Kuldeep Yadav. But now, since the team is unsure of the form of three players, it is not happening," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan didn't stop there, he went on to criticise Shreyas Iyer in the same breath and said that the batting troika missed an opportunity to better prepare for the challenge posed by Australia by choosing not to play competitive cricket during their break. Had they utilised that time to stay in match practice, he argued, they would have been in significantly better touch upon their return to international duty.
"It is not like they (Virat, Rohit, and Shreyas) did not have a lot of options to play cricket (during the break). I believe that no matter how big a player you are, when it comes to Indian cricket, you have to make sure that you return after following the proper process. We have seen both Rohit and Virat work hard, but match fitness and normal fitness are two different things. For example, Rishabh Pant, coming after injury, will play for India 'A' against South Africa 'A'," Pathan further said.
Kohli and Rohit will have a chance to come back hard in the second ODI against Australia, which is scheduled to be played on October 23.