‘They'll find a way,’ former Australian captain backs Kohli and Rohit to play 2027 World Cup

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has expressed unwavering support for Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, despite their struggles in the opening ODI against Australia.

Virat and Rohit after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win. Image | ICC

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has voiced strong support for Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, urging fans and critics not to write off their chances at the 2027 World Cup. Both players faced a challenging comeback in the opening ODI against Australia in Perth, with Kohli dismissed for a duck and Rohit scoring only eight runs.

Ponting expects Virat and Rohit to bounce back

Ponting understands that taking an extended break from international cricket can disrupt a player’s rhythm, especially in the intense format of 50-over cricket. "Finding your rhythm and tempo is the biggest thing," he told the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"When you've had a break, just getting back used to the rhythm and tempo of the 50-over game again takes a little time for anybody. I'd expect to see both those guys bounce back pretty quickly."

The conditions at Perth’s Optus Stadium favored fast bowlers, with extra bounce and movement troubling both Rohit and Kohli. Rohit struggled against the new-ball duo Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, only managing one boundary before being dismissed by a sharp length delivery. Kohli appeared uncertain at the crease and was caught at point after chasing a wide delivery from Starc, exposing his known weakness outside the off-stump.

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“Virat is the greatest 50-over player”

Despite their early failures, Ponting made it clear that neither player should be written off given their remarkable records. Highlighting Kohli’s skill, he said, "I consider Virat the greatest 50-over player I've ever seen." He added that both Kohli and Rohit would be key contributors to India’s success going forward and that they are likely to be part of the 2027 World Cup squad.

India’s entire batting line-up struggled on the pace-friendly wicket with only KL Rahul managing to build some momentum, scoring a brisk 38 off 31 balls.

Stand-in captain Shubman Gill got off to a promising start but was dismissed by a leg-side edge, while vice-captain Shreyas Iyer’s trouble with the short ball continued under challenging conditions. Nitish Reddy’s quick cameo helped India reach 136 for 9 in 26 overs before rain interruptions further complicated their innings.

Australia, powered by a fluent 46 from Mitchell Marsh, comfortably chased down the target to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Yet, the disappointment of the India batting collapse in the first ODI has not shaken Ponting's faith in the team’s leadership and top stars.

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“They will likely to be in that World Cup team”

The former Aussie captain feels the both Virat and Rohit would have higher chances of suuccess in Adelaide. Not only that, Ponting believes that both the Indian legends will find a way to contribute to India’s success.

Moreover, as per Ponting, they will also be in the 2027 World Cup team, if they find a way to contribute in conditions like Australia.

"As I said, 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. So, the challenge is definitely there.

"They'll find a way to contribute and win games for their team, and if they do that, then they'll most likely be in that World Cup team in 2027."

How to watch Australia vs India, 2025 ODI series?

Cricket fans in India can watch the Australia vs India 2025 ODI series on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.

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