“Australia won’t spare if…”- Mohammed Kaif slams Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s preparation for AUS vs IND ODIs

The former lower-order batter of the Indian side, Mohammed Kaif, has raised his concern about the form and preparation of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the recently started three-match ODI series against Australia down under. The duo returned to competitive cricket six months after the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. 

Both batters’ last game for the Blue Brigade came in the first week of March this year during the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Kaif felt that Virat Kohli should have traveled with the team as he did.

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“Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had the opportunity. But maybe they thought they would go together with the team, as people are behind them anyway. There might have been pressure, like ‘Virat should travel with the team’; he has shifted to England, so that pressure was there. It would have been another problem if he had not traveled with the team. So he got caught in this.” Kaif expressed on his YouTube video.

Mohammed Kaif voices over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s preparation ahead of AUS vs IND ODIs

Rohit got caught in the slip region after being found on the outside edge against the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for eight runs. On the other hand, Kohli returned to the hut after his eight-ball stay in the middle for a duck as his mistimed drive caught into the hands of the backward point.

These two had an opportunity to go there eight to ten days earlier. No matter how big a batter you are, this is a game of rhythm. A team like Australia will not spare you if you are not in rhythm. I feel it would have been better if they had arrived earlier.” Kaif addressed.

“Rohit pulls the short ball. He pulls the ball that he got out to. But because he did not have enough game practice, and it seemed that Hazlewood was in good rhythm, he had to be prepared. If he is in form, he hits that ball for a six. But maybe here he thought to take some time and get used to the pitch. He seemed to be in two minds.” The renowned commentator concluded.