The senior Indian batsman Virat Kohli was spotted during net practice in Adelaide looking foremost and surefire before the team played the second ODI against Australia. After a sad performance on his return to international cricket, Kohli did not hold back and challenged himself in the nets, thereby claiming victory over the lost rhythm and confidence.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma focused on form ahead of the Adelaide ODI
The previous Indian skipper, whose wicket Mitchell Starc claimed, in the very first ODI, put his focus into polishing his technique, executing neat backfoot punches and being ahead of the bounce. Kohli has historically been a performer at the Adelaide Oval where he has made 244 runs in 4 ODIs against Australia, including 2 tons. He has played 12 games across formats at the venue and amassed 975 runs at a stunning average of 65, thus making it one of his most fruitful grounds.
Next to him, Rohit Sharma also was the other Indian batsman who devoted nearly an hour in the nets. The opener from India, just like Kohli, had to face tough bowling from the Australian pacers, and besides his wicket, Josh Hazlewood's was the third one to fall. India had such a performance in their first ODI that it put them in a position that could only be described as a rude awakening—their innings came to an end at merely 136 runs. Mitchell Marsh was the one who kept the innings going for Australia by scoring 46 runs and leading his team to a seven-wicket win, thereby receiving the Player of the Match award.
Before the second ODI, cricket great Ricky Ponting from Australia wanted the crowd to keep their calm as the Indian giants Kohli and Rohit could not make it to the scoreboards in the first ODI. He pointed out that both the players would soon find their rhythm and continue to be instrumental for India until the ODI World Cup in 2027. Ponting suggested that one should be careful in dismissing players who have had the laurels, stressing that the pair just required some time to get rid of the rust after their long absence from the field.
