Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting urged the cricket pundits not to write off the veteran duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after the first ODI against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth, on Sunday. 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. And the experienced pair could not hit the ground running on their much-awaited return.

“Finding your rhythm and tempo is the biggest thing. When you’ve had a break, just getting back used to the rhythm and the tempo of the 50-over game again, it takes a little bit of time for anybody,” Ponting said on the most recent episode of The ICC Review.

“I’d expect to see both those guys bounce back into it pretty quickly.”

“As I said, Adelaide is a great place to bat and a great place to play cricket. But it won’t be easy for the fact that they are facing some of the best white-ball bowlers that have ever played the game. So, the challenge is definitely there.”

Ponting tipped Virat Kohli as the best ODI player he has ever seen.

“But I say it all the time, you don’t write off champion players ever. And these two guys have been two of the best, and while I’m on record saying I think Virat’s the best 50-over player I’ve ever seen, you don’t write them off.”

“They’ll find a way to contribute and win games for their team, and if they do that, then they’ll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027,” he added.

The second ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.