Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Flop Show in First ODI Against Australia Enrages Fans on Social Media

Following the batting failures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Australia comfortably defeated India by seven wickets in a rain-affected first ODI.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Flop Show in First ODI Against Australia Enrages Fans on Social Media

Fans criticized Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after they performed poorly on their ODI return against Australia. (via India Today)

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Indian batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s much-anticipated return to international cricket ended in a major disappointment, after they failed to get going in the first ODI against Australia. While Kohli did not open his account in the first innings, Sharma was dismissed for just eight runs. 

The ongoing ODI series between India and Australia marks Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s return to Team India colors after having remained out of action for an extended period. The duo have not played for the Men in Blue since the victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign in March this year, while also having announced their retirement from the longest format of the game midway through the 2025 IPL season.

Kohli and Sharma have already retired from Tests and T20Is, but still harbor the ambition of playing in the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. However, the team management and the selectors have seemingly started preparations for life without them, with Shubman Gill replacing Sharma as the new ODI captain in a crucial change. Concerns have also risen over their fitness and form until the WC, which is still two years away.

However, the duo endured a disastrous start in the first ODI against Australia in Perth, as they were both dismissed early on. Put to bat first, the Men in Blue struggled from the very beginning, losing Rohit Sharma in the fourth over, after he was trapped by Josh Hazlewood with an outside-edge, departing for just 8 runs off 15 balls. He even struggled to adapt to the bounce and pace during his brief stay.

Next up, Virat Kohli walked out to bat, but his stay was short-lived. Off the first ball of the seventh over, he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc, edging the ball to Cooper Connolly at backward point, going back for a duck after facing eight balls. Indian cricket fans were left distraught at Kohli and Sharma’s poor showing on their return to international cricket, with many exclaiming that the duo might have lost touch.

Furthermore, former Indian cricketers like Amit Mishra and Varun Aaron suggested the duo play domestic cricket. They particularly urged Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play in the upcoming limited-overs events, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 

Social media erupts as fans slam Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after dismal start in 1st Australia ODI

Indian cricket fans and social media users erupted in unison, after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were cheaply dismissed in the first ODI against Australia. Fans took to ‘X’ and Instagram to share their reactions, with many of them urging the duo to retire from international cricket completely. 

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma vs. Australia
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were dismissed cheaply in the first ODI between India and Australia in Perth. (via NDTV Sports)

After a dismal performance by the two batting icons at the Optus Stadium, some fans lashed out at the ‘PR’ machinery surrounding the two legends, suggesting that their focus now is merely on looking back at old stats and memories. A few other fans exclaimed that the ‘hype’ that had gathered in the build-up to the first ODI against Australia went down, after Kohli and Sharma flopped on their return. 

On the other hand, many cricket fans suggesting that Kohli and Sharma’s batting showed an evident lack of practice and match-time. Some of them hilariously noted that the duo offered fans a ‘Diwali gift’, with their display. On the other hand, ex-India cricketer-turned analyst Aakash Chopra noted that the two batters would need time to regain their best form, after having remained out of action for a long time. 

Meanwhile, the Men in Blue finished the match with a paltry first innings total of just 136 runs, in a rain-curtailed 26-over-a-side affair. Axar Patel and KL Rahul scored crucial 30-run knocks, while the top four batters including Sharma, Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer struggled.

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