Former Indian cricket star Irfan Pathan hasn’t held back in his assessment of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, pinpointing their disappointing performance in the inaugural One-Day International against Australia in Perth to a clear lack of recent game time. Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel, Pathan underscored that even players of their immense stature must adhere to fundamental preparation routines. He particularly lauded Rishabh Pant’s commendable decision to play for India ‘A’ against South Africa ‘A’ before making his international return, presenting it as the gold standard for regaining match fitness.
Rohit and Virat, whose last appearance for India was during the ICC Champions Trophy victory back in March, faced frustrating outings in Perth, managing scores of eight and zero runs respectively. Their limited participation in recent competitive cricket can be traced back to their decision to retire from Tests prior to the England tour and from T20Is last year.
The star duo had consequently missed a significant amount of high-level cricket, including a demanding five-Test series in England, the T20I Asia Cup, and a home series against West Indies (comprising two Tests). Their only real competitive action during this extended break came from playing in the IPL between April and June.
Pathan didn’t mince words, stating, “You simply have to do what’s necessary; you must complete the required processes, which includes playing matches. In this crucial aspect, they have fallen behind. Had they engaged in some matches beforehand and demonstrated good form, the team management might have comfortably opted for seven batters, allowing for the inclusion of someone like Kuldeep Yadav. But currently, with uncertainty surrounding the form of these three key players, such decisions become difficult.”
While acknowledging Rohit and Virat’s stellar ODI track records and the fact that their entire careers wouldn’t be judged on just a couple of individual performances, Pathan reiterated that the fundamental process of match preparation remains non-negotiable for success at the highest level.
He further elaborated, “It’s not as if Virat, Rohit, and Shreyas Iyer lacked opportunities to play cricket during their break. My belief is that no matter how exceptional a player you are, especially when representing Indian cricket, it’s imperative to return only after diligently following the proper preparatory process. We’ve certainly seen both Rohit and Virat put in hard work, but there’s a distinct difference between general fitness and actual match fitness. Take Rishabh Pant, for instance. After recovering from his injury, he’s opting to play for India ‘A’ against South Africa ‘A’.”
Pathan concluded by emphasizing the logic behind Pant’s decision: “Pant, a proven match-winner in Tests, could easily declare himself fit and insist on playing the Tests against South Africa immediately. But no, that’s not how it works, nor should it. His decision to play for India ‘A’ is precisely the correct approach.”