Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up about star batsman Virat Kohli’s struggles with the bat during the ongoing ODI series against Australia. Ashwin hoped Virat would bounce back with a strong performance in the third and final ODI to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, October 25.
Kohli registered back-to-back ducks in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. He comes into this series after a seven-month hiatus from international cricket since the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai. Notably, he recorded consecutive ducks for the first time in his ODI career, surprising many in the cricket community.
I really hope Virat Kohli comes back and scores runs – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube show warned that critics are ready to scrutinize Virat Kohli if he fails again. Ashwin stressed that Virat needs to score runs before people start criticizing.
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“I really hope he comes back and scores in Sydney. What happened with Rohit today (Thursday), Virat Kohli needs that in Sydney. Because in India we don’t discuss why we lost. We often discuss whose fault we lost. Before people start blaming, I hope Virat scores,” Ashwin said.
Virat is currently active only in the 50-over format after retiring from T20I and Tests. In the first two ODIs against Australia, he bowled just 12 balls across both matches, raising questions about his form and future in the format.
Virat Kohli was dismissed the same way as Rohit Sharma – R Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin says playing both inbound and away deliveries will be weighing heavily on Virat Kohli’s mind ahead of the third match. Ashwin said the right-handed batsman misjudged his line and was out off the bowling of Xavier Bartlett.
“From what I saw today, I think Virat came out the way Rohit used to do. But Rohit got through that initial tough phase with a bit of luck. After the initial phase, he looked very good,” Ashwin said.
“I want to talk a little bit about Virat’s dismissal. Xavier Bartlett is a player who can outswing at 130-135 kmph. After bowling the outswinger, he set Kohli well. The commentators were saying that the ball settled after he pitched.”
“Yes, it happened. But the line itself was around the off-stump and middle-stump. Kohli crossed the line and hooked his leg. Yes, Virat got sent off for hurting the deliveryman outside the off-stump. But it’s been a while since I saw him slip out like this and fail to connect with a delivery that went into the seam.”
Rohit Sharma scores 73 as Virat Kohli struggles in 2nd ODI
Virat Kohli’s struggles continued in the second ODI, but Rohit Sharma managed to overcome the tough conditions by scoring 73 runs off 97 balls.
After delivering three consecutive outswingers, Xavier Bartlett bowled a seaming delivery that hit Kohli’s pads. Kohli also stepped across the line hoping for an away ball, but was trapped in front. The batter was not reviewed before returning to the locker room.
Mitchell Starc consistently kept the ball away from Kohli in the first ODI. The former captain showed an outswing pitch in the series opener. His weakness for away travel was also exposed in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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