Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged Virat Kohli to rediscover his form quickly after the Indian batting legend suffered consecutive ducks in the ongoing Australia ODI series. This marks the first time in Kohli’s career that he has been dismissed without scoring in back-to-back ODI innings, raising concerns about his place in India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup.
At 36, Kohli remains one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, holding the record for the most centuries in ODI history. However, Shastri emphasized that past records will not guarantee selection, as current form and consistency are now critical in a team filled with young talent.
Returning to international cricket after a seven-month break since the Champions Trophy, Kohli’s much-anticipated comeback has not gone as expected. He was dismissed for an eight-ball duck by Mitchell Starc in Perth and fell again for a duck to Xavier Bartlett in Adelaide. These rare failures have intensified pressure ahead of the series finale in Sydney.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Shastri cautioned that Kohli must regain his rhythm swiftly, saying, “The next World Cup is still far away, but he needs to find form quickly. The competition for places is fierce, and no one in the Indian setup can afford to relax, not even senior players like Virat or Rohit.”
India’s white-ball squad has been in transition, with promising young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma, and Abhishek Sharma vying for top-order spots. Shastri added, “He’s missed out again today and looked tentative with his footwork. It’s not something we often see from him. His record is extraordinary, but two ducks in a row will definitely disappoint him.”
With the Sydney ODI remaining, Kohli faces a crucial opportunity to bounce back and reaffirm his value to the team as India continues to evolve ahead of the next World Cup cycle.