Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh is brimming with optimism about the imminent return of batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia, commencing October 19. Singh confidently predicts a torrent of runs from the duo, especially from Kohli, who he believes will notch up at least two centuries on his ‘favorite hunting ground’.
Both Kohli and Rohit are set to don the national jersey for the first time since India’s Champions Trophy triumph in March, making their comeback under the leadership of new ODI captain Shubman Gill, who has stepped into Rohit’s previous role.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Amul Cricket Live’, Harbhajan emphatically dismissed any doubts regarding Kohli’s physical condition. “Please don’t ask any questions about Virat’s fitness. When it comes to fitness, he’s a guru. Everyone follows what he does. There’s absolutely no concern about Virat Kohli’s fitness; he’s fit, probably fitter than many of those currently playing alongside him. In today’s international cricket, he’s arguably the fittest player out there. Now, I’m just looking forward to seeing Virat back in action,” he stated.
The veteran spinner expressed his desire for Kohli to continue his journey in the One-Day International format for a considerable period, emphasizing the immense value he still brings to the game. “Fans have missed watching him, and personally, I’d love to see him continue playing the One-Day International format for a while longer because he still has so much to offer. When he retired from Test cricket, I genuinely felt he still had four to five years left in him, not just to play, but to dominate, because that’s the kind of batter he is.”
Harbhajan is particularly excited about Kohli’s performance in Australia, a country where he has historically excelled. “He’s now heading to Australia, his favourite place to bat, and I’m sure he’ll once again show his mettle there. We’ve seen him score tons of runs in those conditions before, and I believe he’ll do it again. The same goes for Rohit; I’m looking forward to both these legends scoring heavily for India and helping the team win matches.”
Further solidifying his prediction, Harbhajan added, “Some players thrive when things get difficult; that’s when they bring out their best. And Virat Kohli is one of those players. He shines on big occasions, and that’s what sets him apart from others. He waits for those big opportunities, those high-pressure games, and that’s when he shows why he’s a champion. When you perform against the best, that’s when you earn respect, and he’s earned that, especially after scoring those hundreds in Australia and taking on the responsibility of leading the team. Those are the challenges he looks forward to. Australia is his favourite hunting ground, and now he’s making his comeback after the IPL. I’m really looking forward to seeing him bat in those three ODIs, and hopefully, out of those three, he gets at least two centuries for India.”