India’s Conundrum With Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma In ODI Cricket

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli played likely their final game in Australia (Photo by Mark Evans – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Almost inevitably, despite their suspect form and declining skills as father time in a sport they’ve long dominated dawned, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were not going to let their swansong in Australia end with a whimper.

In a desperate bid to avoid India’s first ODI series whitewash to rival Australia, Kohli and Rohit turned back the clock as they had the pro-India crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the palm of their hands.

It was like the good old days, with the legendary pair toying with the bowlers and making a mockery of a supposed tricky run chase.

Fittingly, considering such memorable battles over a decade on this uncompromising soil, Kohli and Rohit walked off triumphant much to the delight of the blue shirts festooned around the terraces.

It was particularly sweet for Kohli, one of the most famous foreign athletes in Australia – a country where the combative batter has had a love-hate relationship.

Whipped into a frenzy by the shameless tabloids, who viewed Kohli as clickbait, Australians particularly relished taunting him. But these hard-bitten fans do appreciate those who can back up their talk and Kohli certainly did that over the years ensuring he’s been given a fond farewell.

With both players having retired from Test and T20I cricket, there has been conjecture over whether they should continue playing in the 50-over format. On this occasion, when they rekindled their brilliant best, you can see why India’s hierarchy remain stubborn.

Chasing 237 on a grassy surface against an in-form attack should have been a major challenge, but the legendary batters made it look easy to power India to a thumping nine-wicket victory.

All their wealth of experience was on show with the pair mixing belligerent blows with clever singles, as Rohit showcased his notably leaner physique to match Kohli’s trademark hard running between the wickets.

When they bat with this type of authority, mustering their wealth of experience superbly, there appears no way to stop them and makes opponents stir crazy. It was little wonder that Mitchell Marsh, the affable Australia captain, was looking rather sombre as he looked on helplessly.

After such a sluggish start to the series, which began with net sessions in Perth that were an eyesore, Rohit turned the corner at some point during the second ODI after showcasing pure grit to turnaround his fortunes.

Rohit’s sweet timing and power was evident from the get go in Sydney as he hammered his 33rd ton and totally eased pressure that had been building.

Kohli had entered on the back of consecutive ducks – an ignominy he had never suffered before in his legendary career. The 37-year-old got off the mark with a quick single, raising his fist and sporting a grin to underline that this steely competitor does have a sense of humor.

Without the burden of being a three-format player, and having spent many months with his family in his new haunt of London, Kohli has been in an especially jovial mood throughout the tour even mingling with his devout fans after training sessions.

Even though this was a delightful throwback, it remains unknown over whether they can still make it to the 2027 World Cup, where no doubt Rohit and Kohli hope to finish their legendary careers by lifting the trophy.

Two years is a long way away when you’re in the twilight and every failure will be magnified. The two veterans are also keeping at bay India’s long line of prodigious talents, led by young Test star Yashasvi Jaiswal who really is way too good to be warming the bench.

The presence of the megastars has made a potentially awkward start to Shubman Gill’s captaincy reign although the new skipper has offered support and made sure he picks the brain of his predecessors.

It is a delicate straddle of the old and new. Gill has not been able to mould his own side like he has done to great success with a rejuvenated Test team. It won’t be easy for him to emerge from the shadows of the two men who have reigned over such a highly successful period for India.

Despite the teething problems to start Gill’s captaincy, you fancy he would still want Kohli and Rohit’s when it matters most at the pointy end of the next World Cup, where their sheer aura might be enough to get India over the line of a pressure cooker.

Who knows what is ahead. But on this Saturday night in Sydney, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma conjured the type of nostalgia that their giddy fans will never forget.