Former India coach Ravi Shastri had a memorable quip for batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after they guided India to a resounding nine-wicket victory against Australia in the third One-Day International at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia, after batting first, was dismissed for 236 runs in 46.4 overs. India then comfortably chased down the target in just 38.3 overs, spearheaded by a magnificent unbeaten century from Rohit and a composed half-century from Kohli. This impressive win offered a strong finish to the series, despite India losing the three-match contest 1-2.
Rising pacer Harshit Rana was exceptional with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 39 runs, while Washington Sundar and Axar Patel also contributed with crucial breakthroughs. For Australia, Matt Renshaw scored 56, and Mitchell Marsh added 41 runs, being their top contributors.
Rohit, who remained unbeaten on 121 runs off 125 balls, masterfully anchored India’s chase, displaying his characteristic timing and control. He initially forged a 69-run partnership with Shubman Gill (24), before joining forces with Kohli for an unbroken 168-run stand that decisively sealed the match. Kohli, in excellent form, remained not out on 74 runs off 81 deliveries.
Following the match, Shastri praised the dynamic duo during the post-game interview, playfully remarking, “You two old dogs still have a sting in the tail.”
Rohit, with a smile, responded, “Looks like it, yes. We enjoy our cricket, most importantly, no matter what accolades we’ve achieved. But it’s important that whenever you get an opportunity to play, you’ve got to come and start fresh. And that’s what we did when we arrived in Perth — forget what has happened in the last 15–17 years, we always wanted to start fresh, and that’s how I personally look at all the games that I play. I’m sure it’ll be the same for Virat as well, but I enjoyed playing these three games.”
Their jovial interaction and match-winning performance brought a strong conclusion to India’s campaign, adding another memorable chapter to the long-standing partnership between these two cricketing legends. The duo also extended their heartfelt thanks to the Australian crowd before departing from the iconic venue.