Irfan Pathan Advises Virat Kohli: Don’t Bat Desperately vs Australia

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan has advised star batter Virat Kohli to remain composed and avoid batting with desperation after being dismissed for two consecutive ducks in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. While India has already lost the three-match contest, Kohli’s rare back-to-back failures have sparked discussions about his form and long-term ODI prospects.

Kohli’s eight-ball duck in Perth was followed by a four-ball duck in Adelaide, the first instance in his ODI career where he has been dismissed for consecutive zeros. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Irfan Pathan stressed the importance of patience and mental calm, urging Kohli to enjoy his batting rather than forcing runs under pressure.

“Two matches, two ducks — we haven’t seen this. It doesn’t happen too often. This can be pressure, rustiness, or anything. All these things are going on social media, the atmosphere is being created. We have to be careful that these two players are not being affected by the atmosphere. If performance is not there, they won’t play,” Pathan said.

He further elaborated on the mindset Kohli should adopt: “How can he come out of this? He wants to take a single quickly and get off strike. When there are two ducks against your name, you want a run. But he has to ensure to not get desperate. He shouldn’t enjoy batting in the course of getting desperate. He needs to keep enjoying batting. Once he spends time, runs will come and he won’t look back. He likes one-day cricket the most.”

Kohli’s brief stay at the Adelaide Oval ended when he was trapped lbw by Xavier Bartlett, who delivered a sharply seaming delivery that caught Kohli in front of the crease. Despite the early setback, Kohli acknowledged the crowd’s applause with a raised-glove gesture, sparking subtle retirement speculations.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma anchored India’s innings with a composed 73-run knock, guiding the team through early trouble after quick dismissals of Shubman Gill and Kohli. Pathan praised both veterans, highlighting their importance for India’s top-order stability and their aspirations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have done amazing things. It’s important to persist with them if they are struggling. It’s difficult because Yashasvi Jaiswal is on the bench. But if there’s a sword hanging above your head, it’s not easy to play. I hope it doesn’t affect Kohli,” Pathan added.

With India now playing for pride in the final ODI in Sydney, Kohli has an opportunity to rediscover form. Pathan’s advice underscores the importance of patience, mental composure, and enjoying the game as the key to regaining confidence and delivering for the team.