Weather, Not Form, to Blame for Rohit and Kohli’s Struggles in Perth: Sitanshu Kotak

Adelaide — India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has come to the defence of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after their poor outing in the rain-affected first ODI against Australia in Perth, attributing their struggles to difficult weather conditions rather than lack of preparation.

Both veterans made a disappointing return to international cricket following the 2025 Champions Trophy, with Rohit scoring 8 off 14 balls and Kohli registering his first-ever duck on Australian soil. India eventually went down by seven wickets (DLS) in a match reduced to 26 overs a side after multiple rain interruptions.

Speaking ahead of the second ODI, Kotak explained that the frequent stoppages due to rain made batting extremely challenging.

“Both of them are very experienced. I think it was the weather,” Kotak said. “It would have been the same if Australia had batted first. It’s not easy when there are four or five interruptions and you have to keep walking in and out every few overs.”

Kotak dismissed concerns about their preparation, insisting that both players had trained adequately before the series.

“Before coming to Australia, they had proper preparation. It’s too early to judge them. They’ve just retired from Test cricket but continue to play IPL. We monitor their fitness and training at the National Cricket Academy, and they’re in good shape,” he said.

The batting coach also emphasized that experienced players like Rohit and Kohli usually know how to manage their game, and excessive interference could be counterproductive.

“With such senior players, you don’t want to intervene unless necessary. They know what they’re doing. They’ve been playing top-level cricket for years,” Kotak added.

Rohit was undone by a sharp delivery from Josh Hazlewood, while Mitchell Starc dismissed Kohli for an eight-ball duck. Their early dismissals inside the powerplay left India struggling, prompting criticism about their readiness after a long break from international cricket.

Kotak, however, reiterated that both batters remain in rhythm and will bounce back once conditions stabilize.

“They’re constantly playing competitive cricket and had enough preparation time. One game doesn’t define them,” he said confidently.

With inuts from IANS