Last Updated on 1 hour by Charbel Coorey
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli notched up their 19th century partnership in ODIs as India avoided a clean sweep with a thumping nine-wicket win over Australia at the SCG.
Lots has been made of whether Rohit and Virat still have what it takes to deliver at this level. This was particularly the case for the latter after consecutive ducks in the first two ODIs. However, the two combined for a classy partnership to give India fans hope that both still have plenty to offer.
Rohit started the chase superbly. A brilliant flick off a Mitchell Starc inswinger in the first over showed he was switched on. Then, an array of lofted shots headlined the powerplay, displaying the kind of intent that has served Rohit so well in this format over the past two years. From there, he continued on his merry way as he brought up his 33rd hundred.
For Virat, getting off the mark first ball was relief to both he and his ardent fans. However, Kohli too was determined from the outset, sharp in his movements and strokeplay to get off to a quick start.
Like Rohit, Kohli settled in and rarely looked troubled apart from a couple of close moments (LBW shout and dropped catch in the deep) in his 30s. He went on to pick up his 75th ODI fifty to go with his barely-believable 51 hundreds. This innings has given his loving supporters hope he has plenty more to offer as he hit the winning boundary with a classy shot to third man.
AUS vs IND 3rd ODI Reactions: Rohit, Virat seal victory after bowlers deliver the goods
Earlier, India’s bowlers were too good, limiting Australia to just 236. The total looked well under-par given the average first innings score at the SCG in the past decade.
The Indian spinners kept things tight, with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar taking combined figures of 4/112 off 26 overs. Also, Harshit Rana delivered the kind of performance the team management believe he can, ripping through the Australian middle order to open the game up.
“Kohli and Rohit rolling back the good old days,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter). “First hundred partnership between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in 5 years and 9 months,” wrote another.
Here are some of the reactions to a big Indian victory at the SCG.
Australia finished the ODI series with a 2-1 victory. Attention now turns to the five-match T20I series which begins on Wednesday at Manuka Oval, Canberra.
