Sunil Gavaskar has offered his assessment of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's recent struggles in the first ODI against Australia in Perth on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Both veterans were returning to international cricket for the first time since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. India lost the match by seven wickets, failing to defend a DLS-revised 131-run target.
Kohli was dismissed for a duck off eight deliveries, while Sharma scored eight runs off 14 balls. Both were dismissed by Australian pace bowlers, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, respectively.
Gavaskar, however, has tempered any harsh criticism, suggesting that the conditions at Perth Stadium played a significant role in their performance. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar noted the pitch in Perth is known to be the bounciest in Australia and that it would not be easy for players returning to international cricket after a couple of months. He also pointed out that other players, like Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who have been consistently playing international cricket, also struggled to adapt to the conditions. Gavaskar also suggested that KL Rahul could have been sent in earlier after the first couple of wickets fell.
Gavaskar said it would not be surprising if the two senior batters deliver big scores in the next two games, insisting that it's only a matter of time and practice before they regain their rhythm. He added, "The more they play, the more time they spend in the nets, the quicker they'll find their rhythm. Once they're back among the runs, India's total will be 300, 300-plus".
Gavaskar emphasized it would always be difficult to play their first ODI on Perth's bouncy pitch after such a long break and refused to be unduly critical of the pair's spoiled comeback.
Looking ahead, Gavaskar believes that a strong comeback is possible in the second ODI in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23. Adelaide is a ground where Kohli has historically thrived, having scored 244 runs at an average of 61 in four ODIs, including two centuries. His Test record at the venue is even more impressive, with 537 runs in five matches at an average of 53.70, including three centuries. Rohit, in contrast, has a modest record at Adelaide, with 131 runs in six matches at an average of 21.83.
Former India bowler Varun Aaron advised Kohli and Rohit to emulate former captain MS Dhoni, who participated in domestic competitions such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophies after retiring from Test matches, to stay sharp and continue practicing for matches.
