India and Australia will play second ODI in Adelaide on October 23.
While great expectations were dashed when their ODI comeback ended suddenly in Perth, Gavaskar believes it is only a matter of time and practice until the partnership returns to form. Both Kohli and Rohit struggled in their first ODI after seven months, being bowled for eight and zero, respectively.
Gavaskar declined to be unduly harsh on the duo's disappointing comeback, pointing out that playing their first ODI after such a lengthy gap on Perth's bouncy wicket was always going to be difficult.
"They were playing on probably the bounciest pitch in Australia. It wasn’t going to be easy, especially for players who haven’t played international cricket for a couple of months. It was challenging for Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who usually play international cricket quite regularly," Gavaskar said to India Today.
"India is still a very, very good team. They’ve won the Champions Trophy. Don’t be surprised if Rohit and Kohli score big in the next two games. They are coming back after a few months away from international cricket. The more they play, the more time they spend in the nets, the more throwdowns they get — maybe even from the reserve bowlers bowling at them from 20 yards instead of 22 — the quicker they’ll find their rhythm. Once they’re back among the runs, India’s total will be 300, 300-plus," he added.
On October 23, India will play the second ODI against Australia at Adelaide, a venue where Kohli has previously excelled. He has scored 244 runs at an average of 61 in four ODIs here, including two centuries.
Rohit, on the other hand, has had a middling record in Adelaide, hitting 131 runs in six matches with an average of 21.83.