Former India head coach Ravi Shastri backed the senior batting duo Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after their flop show in the first ODI against Australia at The Optus Stadium in Perth. Rohit and Virat who made their international comeback after seven months got out after 8 runs and a duck, respectively, in the series opener.
Ravi Shastri backs Rohit and Virat
Shastri, who was India's head coach when Kohli-led side registered their historic first-ever Test series win on Australian soil, believes that the duo was shaky in the first ODI because of a long layoff, and they will get in touch soon and start scoring runs. Notably, the batting duo's last cricketing outing came in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, as they announced their Test retirement during the cash-rich league
“When you come back from a long layoff, you are obviously going to be rusty. It’s not easy for any overseas team to land in Australia, say, two days prior to a game in Perth and adjust to those conditions straight away, especially when you have that extra bounce and against quality fast bowlers,” Shastri told ICC Review.
Shastri's advice to Rohit and Virat
Shastri said he was in no hurry to judge and believed the Indian veterans needs to enjoy their game a bit more.
“I’m in no hurry to judge, but it’s when you come back at that age, after some time, it’s about how much you’re enjoying the sport and how much hunger is there and passion is left in you to play the game. They’ve got class, they’ve got experience and a little bit of time will sort things out. But I’d rather wait than jump and judge immediately,” he added.
After India's batting flop show, Australia defeated India by seven wickets by the DLS method in the first ODI of the three-match series. Rohit and Virat are currently in Adelaide alongside the Indian squad, where they are preparing for their upcoming assignment. The batting duo will now be seen in action in the second ODI against Australia, which will take place on October 23 at Adelaide Oval.