AUS vs IND 2025: 'The demons of BGT troubled him' - Irfan Pathan on Virat Kohli's struggle in Perth ODI

Virat Kohli walking back (Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has attributed the recent struggles of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to limited game time and the lingering pressures from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, after which both had retired from Test cricket. The much-anticipated return of the two veterans to the Indian ODI side did not go as planned during the Australian series.

In the first ODI in Perth, Rohit managed just eight runs, while Kohli was dismissed for a duck his first on Australian soil. Australia comfortably won the match by seven wickets, leaving Indian fans disappointed and raising questions about how the team’s senior batters will regain form in the crucial series.

“Fitness is one thing and game time is one thing. That is why Rohit looked a bit troubled. It looked like the demons of the BGT [Border-Gavaskar Trophy] were back for Virat. I hope this is not the case in Adelaide and Sydney. KL Rahul batted well today. Shreyas Iyer got into an awkward position. Maybe he can work a bit more on his technique. Axar does well whenever he gets an opportunity to bat ahead,” said Pathan on his YouTube channel.

“Whenever you tour such countries, it is always better to go early and play some games. It was going to be difficult for India. It was going to be a challenge as the conditions would not be easy. Our bowlers could not get the right lengths. The batters also had trouble with the bounce. If you had played a game or two, these mistakes would not have happened. It is important to think about these things going forward,” he added.

The Indian top-order struggled against quality Australian bowling on a bowler-friendly surface, with frequent rain interruptions complicating matters even further for them. Shubman Gill’s side managed just 136 runs in 26 overs, failing to build partnerships or momentum throughout the innings. In response, Australia chased down the target comfortably in 21.1 overs, showcasing their dominance and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on October 23.