Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons the veteran duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have fallen behind as they didn’t play any practice games before the ODI series against Australia. India suffered a seven-wicket loss (DLS method) after they managed 136-9 in 26 overs.
While Rohit was dismissed after scoring only eight runs, Kohli was sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Kohli and Rohit had last played International cricket in the Champions Trophy and their last professional assignment was IPL 2025.
The veteran duo has also not played any domestic matches after announcing their retirement from Test cricket.
“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,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan questioned the batting trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer for not playing in the domestic circuit before the series against Australia.
“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 added.
The former all-rounder praised Rishabh Pant for being available for the India A matches against South Africa before the Test series against the Proteas.
“Pant, who is a match-winner in Tests, if he wants, can say that he is fit, I am fine, I’ll play the Tests against South Africa straightaway. But, no. It does not happen like that, and that is what he will be playing for India ‘A’, and that is how exactly it should happen,” Pathan concluded.
The second ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
