India faced a disappointing start in the ODI series against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, making their much-anticipated comebacks, struggled early on. Rohit, returning to international cricket after six months, could only manage 8 runs off 14 balls before falling victim to Josh Hazlewood’s deceptive delivery. Kohli, on the other hand, was dismissed for a duck, marking his first in ODI cricket in Australia.
Australia’s pace duo, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, exploited the pace-friendly Perth pitch to trouble the Indian batsmen. Rohit appeared uncomfortable against the bounce and pace, managing only one boundary before Hazlewood’s clever setup led to his downfall. Kohli, although more composed, fell to a loose shot against Starc.
The Indian team faced further setbacks with Shubman Gill’s dismissal, leaving them struggling at 25 for 3 by the eighth over. The top-order collapse added pressure as the collective contribution of the top 3 batsmen was the lowest since the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
Both Rohit and Kohli failed to spend significant time at the crease, aiming to assert themselves early against the Australian attack. Rohit’s aggressive approach backfired as he tried to take on Hazlewood but fell to a well-executed plan. Kohli’s vulnerability to deliveries outside off-stump resurfaced as he played a loose shot to Starc.
Critics, including former Australia captain Mark Taylor, highlighted the lack of adaptability from the Indian duo. Despite extensive training, the lack of match practice showed as Rohit and Kohli struggled to find their rhythm. Looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup, their form will be closely monitored as selectors assess their performances.
While selectors like Ajit Agarkar emphasized the need for patience in judging Rohit and Kohli, fans expressed concerns about the modern greats’ form. The Indian innings saw a slow start, with the team managing just 27 runs in the first 10 overs. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel worked to stabilize the innings after the early setbacks.