Former Indian cricketer Varun Aaron couldn’t help but commend Virat Kohli’s stellar, unbeaten 74-run innings, which proved to be the cornerstone of India’s resounding nine-wicket victory over Australia in the third One-Day International in Sydney on October 25. After the Australian side was dismissed for 236, Kohli, alongside Rohit Sharma, orchestrated a magnificent 168-run partnership. This commanding display allowed India to effortlessly chase down the target with a significant 69 balls to spare, marking their only win in the three-match series.
This spectacular chase was particularly noteworthy as it saw Kohli spectacularly bounce back from an uncharacteristic string of two consecutive ducks in the earlier matches of the series. He began his innings cautiously, taking a single off his very first ball, before steadily finding his rhythm and ultimately smashing seven boundaries during his impactful 81-ball innings.
Virat Kohli (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)
Complementing Kohli’s brilliance, Rohit Sharma delivered a superb, unbeaten 121 runs from 125 balls. Their formidable partnership was a masterclass in controlled chasing, as they meticulously steered India towards a comfortable victory, consistently maintaining a healthy scoring rate without ever appearing rushed.
Reflecting on Kohli’s impactful innings during an interaction on Star Sports’ ‘Follow the Blues,’ former India pacer Varun Aaron offered a rather unique, yet evocative, comparison: ‘Virat Kohli is like one of those old tractors. It just needs a little fire to start. It doesn’t start on a normal ignition. When Virat has some fire burning in him, you set Virat loose to chase down a target, and this is what he gives you. Chanceless batting.’
Aaron further elaborated on Kohli’s mindset, stating, ‘The over from Josh Hazlewood was a turning point where he truly got going. He took that single run and reacted as if he’d scored a century, which shows how much it means to him. Even today, when he represents India, his sole focus is to secure victories and accumulate significant scores, whether it’s hundreds or fifties. It’s no surprise that he holds the record for most fifties by an Indian in a winning cause. When Rohit Sharma and Kohli are at the crease, records just keep falling.’
Adding to the analysis, former India wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel emphasized Kohli’s measured and patient approach in finding his form again, especially after recording two consecutive ducks earlier in the series.
Patel remarked, ‘Virat had just come off two zeroes. Given the caliber of player he is, and the immense love fans have for him, everyone naturally wants to see him score. We’re all aware of his exceptional quality. The saying ‘If you respect time, time respects you’ truly applies here.’
He continued, ‘Virat exemplified this perfectly. He took his time at the crease, patiently waiting for the ball rather than forcing the issue. He didn’t seem rushed at all. While we always expect skillful shots from him, it was after just 10-15 minutes that we witnessed Virat’s batting shift into ‘autopilot mode,’ a testament to his class.’
Indeed, Kohli’s innings was a classic demonstration of his signature style: building an innings with meticulous care. He hit three fours within his first 16 deliveries, then strategically shifted his focus to rotating the strike with singles and doubles. His subsequent boundary came only after facing an additional 49 balls, perfectly illustrating his deliberate and calculated approach to the chase.
This crucial victory served as India’s first and only triumph in the three-match ODI series against Australia. Kohli’s magnificent return to form, combined with his vital partnership with Rohit Sharma, proved absolutely instrumental in successfully chasing down the 237-run target.