Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli combined for a record stand to help India secure a nine-wicket victory over Australia, salvaging pride in the final ODI of the series.
India Deny Australia a Series Sweep
India’s legendary batting duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rolled back the years at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday, guiding their side to a commanding nine-wicket win over Australia and avoiding a 3-0 whitewash in the One Day International (ODI) series.
Sharma struck his 33rd ODI century, remaining unbeaten on 121 off 125 balls, while Kohli contributed a classy 74 not out, as India chased down Australia’s 236-run target with more than 11 overs to spare.
The victory came after a string of disappointing defeats in Perth and Adelaide, restoring some momentum for the Indian side before their T20 series against Australia, which begins on October 29, 2025.
Veteran Duo Deliver Vintage Performance
At 38 and 36, respectively, Sharma and Kohli may have played their final ODI innings on Australian soil, but their partnership was a reminder of their enduring class and chemistry. The pair shared a 168-run stand, marking their first century partnership since January 2020.
Sharma’s innings was filled with elegant drives and powerful sweeps, featuring 13 fours and 3 sixes. He reached his century by calmly guiding a single off Adam Zampa, who endured a tough outing, finishing wicketless.
Kohli, eager to bounce back after two consecutive ducks earlier in the series, looked in complete control from his first delivery. His crisp timing returned as he struck boundaries off both pace and spin, completing his half-century in 56 balls.
With his 74*, Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s ODI tally of 14,234 runs, moving into second place all-time behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 18,426.
Rana’s Breakthrough Spell Stifles Australia
India’s bowlers laid the platform for victory earlier in the day, with Harshit Rana starring in only his second ODI appearance. The right-arm quick recorded career-best figures of 4-39, helping bowl out Australia for 236 in 46.4 overs.
All six Indian bowlers chipped in with wickets, displaying balance and variety in attack. Australia’s top order got starts — Travis Head (29), Mitchell Marsh (41), and Matt Renshaw (56) — but none converted into a substantial innings.
Renshaw’s dismissal, leg-before to Washington Sundar (2-44), triggered a collapse as Australia lost four wickets for just 18 runs, slipping from 183-3 to 201-7.
Shreyas Iyer’s stunning catch to remove Alex Carey shifted momentum decisively in India’s favour, while Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj kept the middle order in check with tight, probing spells.
Captain Gill Praises Senior Stars
India’s young captain Shubman Gill, who made a brisk 24 before falling to Josh Hazlewood, credited the senior duo for their composed run chase.
“Rohit and Virat have done it for so many years. It’s a delight to watch them bat together, especially under pressure,” Gill said. “It was a near-perfect game for us — disciplined bowling, smart batting, and great energy.”
For Australia, Mitchell Marsh admitted his side squandered a promising start:
“We had a great platform at 183-3 but couldn’t cash in. We needed one more partnership to push beyond 280.”
Emotional End to an Era?
The SCG crowd of nearly 40,000 gave Sharma and Kohli standing ovations as they left the field — a fitting tribute to two icons who have defined Indian cricket for more than a decade.
While neither confirmed retirement plans, both are expected to skip future ODI tours of Australia, focusing instead on shorter formats and domestic commitments.
If this was indeed their last outing Down Under, it was a perfect farewell — two giants of Indian cricket combining to produce a commanding, match-winning performance.
Score Summary
Australia: 236 all out in 46.4 overs (Matt Renshaw 56, Marsh 41; Rana 4-39, Sundar 2-44)
India: 237/1 in 38.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 121*, Virat Kohli 74*, Gill 24; Hazlewood 1-35)
Result: India won by 9 wickets
Series: Australia won 2-1
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