Kohli, Sharma Thank Australia After Dominant ODI Victory

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma delivered a powerful statement against Australia in the third ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, orchestrating a massive 178-run partnership that led India to a stunning 9-wicket victory with 69 balls remaining. The commanding display came amidst speculation about the duo’s international future and provided a fitting crescendo to what appears to be their final tour of Australia.

Partnership Silences Critics

The partnership helped India avoid a series whitewash, with Rohit scoring 121 runs off 125 balls for his 33rd ODI century, while Kohli recovered from consecutive ducks with a fluent unbeaten 74 off 81 balls. Both players used the opportunity to make a memorable impression before potentially closing a significant chapter of their cricket careers.

Gratitude and Emotional Goodbye

After the match, during an interview with Ravi Shastri and Adam Gilchrist, both players extended heartfelt thanks to the Australian crowd and people. Kohli stated, “We’ve loved coming to this country, we’ve played some good cricket, thank you guys for coming in big numbers and supporting us,” while Rohit added, “Thank You Australia.”

Kohli further expressed his deep affection for Australian cricket, saying he loves playing in the country and particularly at Sydney, describing it as having a “great ground, great crowd, great pitch.” Rohit earned Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards, accumulating 202 runs across three games at an average of 101.

The victory and emotional farewell underscore the remarkable legacy both players have built on Australian soil throughout their careers.