Ravi Shastri urges Virat Kohli to regain form quickly ahead of World Cup selection.
Adelaide
India’s ODI superstar Virat Kohli is under pressure to rediscover his form after being dismissed for consecutive ducks in the ongoing series against Australia. Despite an illustrious career and holding the all-time record for most ODI centuries, the 36-year-old faces scrutiny as selectors begin shaping India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup.
Kohli’s struggles started in Perth, where he was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc, followed by another scoreless outing against Xavier Bartlett in Adelaide. This marked the first time in his ODI career that he has been dismissed for zero in back-to-back innings. The series, intended as a farewell tour for Kohli in Australia, has not gone as expected, raising questions about his current form.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri emphasized the urgency for Kohli to regain his touch. Speaking to Fox Sports after India’s innings in Adelaide, Shastri warned: “He’ll have to get some form pretty quickly. The competition for places is such in India in white-ball cricket; no one is going to relax, whether it’s Virat or Rohit or anyone in the team.”
Shastri also noted that the Indian ODI setup now features a wealth of emerging talent, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma, making every spot highly competitive. “It’s not going to be easy. He’s missed out again today and was a little tentative with his footwork. His record is phenomenal, so for him to get two ducks on the trot, he’ll be disappointed,” Shastri added.
With just the Sydney ODI remaining on Saturday, Kohli faces a crucial opportunity to reclaim his form and reassure selectors ahead of India’s preparations for the next ODI World Cup.