Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were involved in a 168-run partnership during the Sydney ODI.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli turned back the clock with a 168-run stand in what could be their Australian swansongs as India thrashed the hosts by nine wickets in third ODI at SCG on Saturday (October 25).
Rohit’s magnificent 121* off 125 balls, studded with 13 fours and three sixes, showcased his power, while Kohli’s composed 74* off 81 balls demonstrated his excellent strike rotation and calculated risk-taking abilities in the chase of 237.
The veteran duo’s stunning display in Sydney helped India avoid a series whitewash against Australia.
In a video released by BCCI, Rohit reflected on his partnership with Kohli after the visitors lost key wicket of skipper Shubman Gill for 24.
“Yeah, fantastic partnership after a long time. I think we hadn’t had a 100-run partnership for a long time. It was good to get that partnership for the team’s perspective looking at how we were placed at one point. We lost Gill early. Not early, I mean, we still managed to get 40, 45 and then Gill got out. So obviously we knew with Shreyas not being there, it was an added responsibility for the batters and it was a great partnership. We enjoyed every moment we spent out there. There was a lot of chatter between the two of us. We played so much cricket together, we understand each other really well. It was about taking the game, understanding what was required at that point and it definitely comes with the experience as well. With so much experience between the two of us, we used it pretty well,” Rohit said.
“Once we started to bat, obviously up front with two new balls, it was a bit challenging. The pitch was slightly misbehaving at the start and we knew once the shine of the ball was off, it gets a little easier. So that was the plan. I wanted to bat as deep as possible and see how we can take the game till the end,” the former India captain added.
“Sometimes you can think so many things and it doesn’t come off. But today was the day where I thought, okay this is what I have to do and it just perfectly fit into my plans. Obviously when you play in Australia, you got to plan and play. So all the planning and all the understandings I had from the previous experience, I used it today,” he remarked.
With his ton at SCG, Rohit Sharma became only the 10th man in history to smash 50 international centuries. It was his 33rd ODI hundred and he also has 12 Test tons and five T20I centuries to his name.
During the Sydney innings, Virat Kohli added another feather to his cap as he became the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs. The 36-year-old went past Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara’s 14,234 runs when he reached 54* in the 32nd over of the second innings.
Kohli now has 14,255 runs in 305 ODIs, achieved in just 293 innings, with a highest score of 183. His record includes 51 centuries (most by any batsman) and 75 half-centuries at an average of 57.71. Only Sachin Tendulkar remains ahead of him with a staggering 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs.
Having retired from T20Is and Tests, Rohit and Kohli have now become one-format players. They will be next seen in action during the home ODI series against South Africa, starting November 30 in Ranchi.