Adelaide: India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak supported veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following their disappointing performances in the ODI series opener against Australia. He noted that while the players had adequately prepared for the series, adverse weather conditions significantly impacted their performance. Rohit and Kohli returned to international cricket on Sunday for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025, with Rohit scoring only 8 runs off 14 balls and Kohli experiencing his first duck on Australian soil as India lost by seven wickets (DLS) in a rain-affected match reduced to 26 overs per side.
Ahead of the second match in the three-match series, Kotak addressed concerns regarding the two senior players’ preparations, emphasizing that the frequent interruptions caused by weather played a crucial role in their inability to build momentum. “Both of them are very experienced. I think it was the weather. It would have been the same if Australia had batted first. It is not easy when there are four or five interruptions and every two overs you are going in and coming back out,’ he explained to reporters on Wednesday. “Before coming to Australia, they had proper preparation. I think it is too early to judge them. They just retired from Test cricket and are still playing IPL.
We are very much aware of their preparations and fitness status. They also attend the National Cricket Academy for training and I have monitored their progress through video analysis. “You have to find the right time to intervene. I am a big believer in that. With such senior players, you don’t want to interfere unnecessarily. If they are doing things correctly and you still try to get involved, it may not be the best approach. I believe both of them have a great deal of experience. They are actively participating in the IPL and had sufficient preparation time before arriving in Australia,” Kotak added.
Kohli and Rohit rejoined the ODI team after retiring from Test cricket earlier this year, but their return did not yield the expected results. Rohit was dismissed for 8 runs by a sharp delivery from Josh Hazlewood, while Mitchell Starc sent Kohli back for a duck after just eight balls. With both top-order batsmen out early in the powerplay, concerns arose regarding their preparedness, as experts and analysts highlighted that their lack of recent game time contributed to their struggles.