Daijiworld Media Network – Perth

Perth, Oct 22: Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak came to the defence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after the duo struggled in the first ODI against Australia on Sunday, scoring a duck and 8 runs respectively. Questions were raised over their preparedness for the series opener, as both had not played international cricket for the past seven months.

Kotak, however, dismissed concerns about their form, attributing the poor performance partly to weather interruptions rather than a lack of readiness. “I do not think so. They played the IPL. The preparation has been very good. I think it was the weather. It would have been the same if Australia had batted first. It is not easy when there are four or five interruptions and every two overs you are going in and coming back out,” he said.

Addressing concerns over the seven-month break, Kotak emphasised the experience and discipline of the senior players. “Both of them are very experienced. Before coming to Australia, they had proper preparation. It is too early to judge them. Coming into the series, we were aware of their fitness levels and the preparation work they had been doing. With such senior players, you do not need to step in right away if you see they are doing the right things,” he added.

The Indian management remains confident that Kohli and Rohit will find their rhythm as the series progresses, highlighting their extensive experience and structured preparation.