Cricket icon Harbhajan Singh has boldly predicted a magnificent return for star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which kicks off on October 19. Both Kohli and Sharma are back in the squad after their last appearance in the Champions Trophy in March. Notably, they will be playing under the new ODI captain, Shubman Gill, who has taken over the leadership role from Rohit.
This series marks the first time since the Champions Trophy triumph in March that both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will don the India jersey.
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,” Singh stated. “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. I’m just looking forward to seeing Virat back in action.”
Harbhajan further expressed his desire to see Kohli continue in the One-Day International format, highlighting the immense value he still brings. “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,” he explained. Reflecting on Kohli’s Test retirement, Singh noted, “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.”
The spinner anticipates a spectacular performance from Kohli in Australia, a country where he has historically thrived. “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,” Harbhajan asserted. He also extended his high expectations to Rohit Sharma, adding, “The same goes for Rohit; I’m looking forward to both these legends scoring heavily for India and helping the team win matches.”
Harbhajan didn’t stop there, confidently predicting two centuries for Kohli in the upcoming ODI series. He emphasized Kohli’s knack for excelling under pressure: “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.” Singh elaborated on Kohli’s competitive spirit, saying, “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.”
Concluding his enthusiastic forecast, Harbhajan reiterated, “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.”