Virat Kohli’s revenge tour? Parthiv Patel predicts nightmare for Australia in ODIs against India

The much-awaited white-ball tour of Australia this month will mark the grand return of India’s stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket. The duo last donned the India jersey during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where they powered India to a historic title win, their first in 12 years.

Following that triumph, both legends participated in IPL 2025, where Kohli scripted a fairytale moment by clinching his maiden IPL title. However, in a surprising turn of events, both Rohit and Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket, just weeks before India’s red-ball series in England. The two had already retired from T20Is after lifting the T20 World Cup 2024, making ODIs their only active international format heading into the tour down under, beginning October 19.

Virat Kohli ready to haunt Australia? Parthiv Patel issues spine-chilling warning

With fitness concerns surrounding India’s senior players, former wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has confidently backed Kohli to silence critics once again. Speaking on Star Sports, Patel acknowledged the natural challenge of regaining match rhythm after a long break but asserted that Kohli’s work ethic and mentality set him apart.

“This question will always come up when you play after a long gap. Match fitness is different from practice fitness. We know how much Virat works on his fitness, that has never been in doubt. Whenever people have questioned him, he’s responded with performances. So my prediction is that Virat Kohli will be the Man of the Series in the three ODIs against Australia.” Parthiv said.

Patel further noted that while Rohit Sharma has reportedly undergone intensive training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, Kohli has largely kept his preparations private, but his competitive instincts rarely wane once he’s on the field.

“This question will always be raised when you play after a long time. It will take Virat and Rohit some time. No matter how much you practice, when you go to the ground wearing an India T-shirt, a lot of things take over. Obviously, Rohit has worked a lot on his fitness, and we know how Virat keeps working on his fitness, so that question will never be asked.” Parthiv concluded.

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India’s next assignment: ODI series vs Australia

India’s transition from red-ball to white-ball cricket will be swift. With the Test series against the West Indies ending on October 14, most players will fly out to Perth on October 15 to prepare for the opening ODI on October 19. The tour will feature eight white-ball games, starting with three ODIs before moving into five T20Is.

This series holds immense significance for Kohli, not just as a comeback but also as a milestone chase. The 36-year-old needs 54 runs to surpass Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) and become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426). Kohli currently boasts 14,181 ODI runs at an extraordinary average of over 57, the highest among batters with more than 10,000 runs.

Furthermore, Kohli is on the verge of another record, needing 68 more runs to become the highest run-scorer in white-ball cricket (ODIs + T20Is), surpassing Tendulkar’s combined total across both formats. With 26,000+ international runs and 80-plus centuries, Kohli continues to redefine consistency and endurance, and a strong series in Australia could add yet another golden chapter to his unparalleled ODI legacy.

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