Ricky Ponting wants Virat Kohli to make ‘really short-term goals’ in Australia; ‘not be just waiting and killing time’

Amid much conjecture surrounding Virat Kohli's future in the next two years, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting urged the Indian talisman to make "really short-term" goals in the ongoing Australian tour. Having already retired from T20Is and Tests, Kohli played his first match in India colours in more than seven months in the first ODI against Australia.

However, his India return ended in disappointment when Cooper Connolly took a brilliant diving catch to send back the former Indian captain for a eight-ball duck. Interestingly, it was the same approach of chasing a delivery wide of the off stump that brought Kohli's downfall.

Delving deep into Kohli's ODI future, Ponting opined the right-hander should make small targets during the Australian tour, which will help him decide about his future. The last time Kohli played an ODI for India was during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February-March in Dubai.

"The one thing I don't like hearing from anyone is that 'I've achieved everything in the game’ because I think you still have to have some really short-term goals and not just be hanging on to try and get through to the 2027 World Cup,” Ponting said in ICC Review.

“Virat's always been a highly motivated person. And I'd like to think that he's probably sat down and even just given himself some goals and things that he can achieve in this series here in Australia and not be just waiting and killing time for that next World Cup to come around,” he added.