India's cricketing icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had a disappointing return to international cricket on Sunday. The duo were dismissed cheaply in the first ODI against Australia in Perth for a duck and eight runs, respectively.
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Kohli and Rohit returned to competitive cricket action for the first time since IPL 2025. On the other hand, they featured for India for the first time since March, following the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph.
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has now shared an important advice for the duo, to keep their motivation high with two years left for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
What did Ricky Ponting say about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's 2027 World Cup preparation?
The much-awaited return of Kohli and Rohit turned into disappointment when the duo failed to score against Australia in the first match of the three-match ODI series.
Kohli's innings ended on a duck, while Josh Hazelwood dismissed Rohit for just 8 runs. The duo were criticised for lack of match preparation, with doubts raised on whether they can keep up the high levels of performances in time for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
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"Virat's always been a highly motivated person. And I'd like to think that he's probably sat down and even just given himself some goals and things that he can achieve in this series here in Australia and not be just waiting and killing time for that next World Cup to come around," Ponting said on the ICC Review.
Talking to Fox Cricket ahead of the first game, Virat opened up on how fresh he felt taking a long break from the game. The batter has been the flag bearer for Indian cricket for so many years and has played relentless cricket for nearly 15-16 years.
"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. 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 warns cricket world not to write off Kohli and Rohit
While they did not succeed in their first outing back for India, the duo have been the greatest white-ball players in the history of the game. Their achievements for the country are second to none and are appreciated all over the world.
"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," added Ponting.
Schedule and results for India vs Australia ODI series
Team India has reached Adelaide for the second ODI set to take place on Thursday, October 23rd. Adelaide has always been a happy hunting ground for the Indian legends, and the fans would expect some better returns from both the batters as they take to the field.
| Match | Date | Venue | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Oct 19 | Perth Stadium, Perth | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2nd ODI | Oct 23 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | |
| 3rd ODI | Oct. 25 | SCG, Sydney |
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