IND vs AUS: ‘Sunday barbaad’ - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma disappoint fans on ODI return; social media erupts in anger

The return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma weren't as the fans had expected as the former Indian captains departed for single digits in the first ODI against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday. Playing for India for the first time after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the duo returned to the national colours after a gap of seven months.

Put into bat first, India started off to a steady start with Shubman Gill and Rohit hitting a boundary each in the first three overs. Just when it looked that India are on a quest for a big opening stand, Rohit was undone by a rising Josh Hazlewood delivery that took a thick edge to Matthew Renshaw at the slips. Rohit lasted only 14 balls for his eight runs.

Coming at no.3, Kohli entered the stadium amid huge roar from the Indians fans. But their happiness was short-lived when spin bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly dived to his left to take an acrobatic diving catch at the point to send Kohli back in the hut for a duck off Mitchell Starc. It was Kohli's first duck in Australia in ODIs and 39th overall.

The early dismissals of both Kohli and Rohit didn't go well with their fans on social media. “1 mhine se wait kar rha tha. Sunday barbaad bhaisaab,” one user wrote. “Fans should stop the prediction game before the match. Nazar is real...what a bad day,” another wrote.