IND vs AUS: Ponting predicts Kohli, Rohit will regain kind after Perth defeat

Former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shouldn’t be written off after India’s seven-wicket loss to Australia within the first of three one-day internationals, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting mentioned on Tuesday (October 21, 2025).

After Sunday’s defeat in Perth, the three-match collection strikes to Adelaide on Thursday (October 23, 2025) earlier than concluding in Sydney on Saturday.

Kohli and Rohit, who retired from the sport’s different codecs, now function solely within the 50-over cricket. With the 2027 World Cup in thoughts, the pair returned to motion on Sunday for the primary time since lifting the Champions Trophy in March.

Neither regarded convincing towards Australia’s tempo bowlers, with Rohit edging Josh Hazlewood to second slip on eight and Kohli reducing Mitchell Starc to a diving Cooper Connolly at backward level for a duck.

However, Ponting is assured the pair will quickly rediscover their contact.

“You don’t write off champion players ever. These two have been among the best, and while I’ve said before that Virat’s the best 50-over player I’ve ever seen, you don’t write them off,” Ponting mentioned on the ICC Review podcast.

“They’ll discover a option to contribute and win video games for his or her workforce, and in the event that they do this, they’re going to most probably be in that World Cup workforce in 2027. I’d anticipate to see each these guys bounce again into it fairly shortly.

“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.”

Ravi Shastri, who coached Rohit and Kohli throughout their peak years, mentioned few perceive higher how revered the pair are in India and overseas, and that they might not threat their legacy by taking part in on too lengthy.

“The contribution is over a decade, decade and a half in the case of Virat,” Shastri mentioned. “It’s special. Whether they finish tomorrow or they finish the day after or whenever. That legacy will remain.”