A Hero’s Entrance: Kohli’s Last Stand in Australia
Virat Kohli
The highly anticipated arrival of Virat Kohli at the crease during the third and final One-Day International at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday ignited a wave of awe and nostalgia. Australian commentators and fans savored what many believed could be his last innings in Indian colors on Australian soil.
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“Standby, because while the skipper is departing, the king is about to arrive for the very last time on Australian shores in Indian colours. Ladies and gentlemen… here he is, Virat Kohli,” announced Adam White on Sen Cricket. He continued, “As you’d expect, as we always see, he marches out with purpose. Arguably the best one-day record in the history of the game.”
An embedded video titled “Can’t be too harsh on Virat Kohli; Rohit Sharma was playing for his life’ | Beyond The Boundary” further highlighted the significant performances.
Trent Copeland joined in, saying, “You got to pinch yourself occasionally, don’t you Whitey? That we’re here for this moment. This guy has been at the centre of seismic shifts in cricket. Unquestionably the best one-day record.”
The SCG crowd roared as Kohli scored his first single, prompting White to exclaim, “Listen to the crowd. It’s like he’s just made a century.” Copeland observed Kohli’s subtle reaction: “He’s laughing at the non-strikers and giving the fist bump. He’s human, this guy.”
Match-Winning Performance and Historic Milestones
Kohli’s return to form proved crucial in India’s nine-wicket victory over Australia, despite India losing the series 1-2. After Harshit Rana’s impressive spell of 4/39 limited Australia to 236 runs, Rohit Sharma (121 not out) masterfully guided the chase. Kohli provided excellent support with a fighting 74 not out off 81 balls, forging an unbroken 168-run partnership that saw India comfortably reach their target in just 38.3 overs.
This innings was truly historic. Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest ODI run-scorer and overtook Sachin Tendulkar as the highest run-scorer across all limited-overs international cricket, accumulating an astounding 18,438 runs in ODIs and T20Is combined. He also recorded his 70th score of 50 or more in ODI run-chases, eclipsing Tendulkar’s 69 such instances.
Reflecting on the spectacle, White admitted, “It’s hard not to be nervous… you don’t want the show to end. You want him to keep going.” Copeland added, “It really is characters that carry the game… it’s the guy that stands up and wins his team and his nation.”
A Lasting Legacy
As Kohli departed the field, acknowledging the crowd with nods and fist pumps, it served as a powerful reminder of his monumental career – a final, unforgettable performance on Australian soil, leaving fans and commentators with cherished memories and a profound sense of goosebumps.
Discover Lovlina Borgohain’s inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5.