Ind vs Aus ODIs: Former India star makes bold prediction on Virat Kohli

What should fans expect from a 36-year-old batter who has already retired from two formats? If that player is Virat Kohli, the answer is simple - greatness.

The former India captain hasn’t featured in international or ODI cricket since March 9, and his most recent competitive appearance came in June. Now based in London, Kohli’s current form in practice sessions remains unknown. However, his fitness is reportedly in peak condition. He successfully cleared the mandatory pre-season fitness test in September.

Still, returning to top-level competition after a five-month break naturally raises some questions. When Kohli last played an ODI, he was still active in Test cricket — that’s no longer the case. With India already preparing for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, discussions about his place in the ODI setup have begun for the first time in more than a decade.

But former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh believes none of this will affect Kohli. In fact, he predicts that the modern-day great will score two centuries in the upcoming India vs Australia ODI series, starting October 19 in Perth.

“Some players rise when the going gets tough — that’s when they show their true class. Virat Kohli is one of those players. He thrives under pressure and shines on big occasions. That’s what makes him special. He waits for those moments and proves why he’s a champion," said Harbhajan in a recent interaction.

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Australia has long been one of Kohli’s most successful venues across formats, and Harbhajan expects that trend to continue in this series.

“When you perform against the best, that’s how you earn respect  and Kohli has done that repeatedly, especially with those memorable hundreds in Australia and his leadership there. He enjoys those challenges. Australia has always been his favourite hunting ground, and now, after his break since the IPL, I’m excited to see him back in action. Hopefully, out of the three ODIs, he scores at least two centuries for India," said Harbhajan.