Sydney, October 25, 2025: For what could be their final appearance together on Australian soil, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli turned back the clock with a vintage batting display, stitching an unbroken 168-run partnership to guide India to victory in front of a packed Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) — a sea of Indian fans celebrating the two icons of modern cricket.
Rohit, who first made his mark at the same venue in the 2008 CB Series final alongside Sachin Tendulkar, produced a commanding knock to register his 33rd ODI century, earning both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
“I’ve always loved coming here,” Rohit said after the match. “Australia has given me some wonderful memories, from 2008 till now. I don’t know if we’ll be coming back, but it’s been fun all these years — a lot of good and bad memories, but I’ll take it all.”
Both Rohit and Kohli now play limited international cricket, but the Indian captain said the duo continues to relish the game. “We enjoy our cricket, no matter what. Accolades aside, every time you play, you start fresh — and that’s what we did,” he said.
Kohli, who had endured two consecutive ducks earlier in the series — the first such instance in his ODI career — rediscovered his touch with a fluent half-century to complete the chase alongside his long-time teammate.
“Even after so many years, the game keeps teaching you,” Kohli said to thunderous applause from the crowd. “It’s amazing how at 37, you can still feel like you don’t know how to get a run. But when you have Rohit at the other end, things become easier — we understand each other’s game really well.”
The pair also crossed another milestone, moving to third place on the list of most prolific ODI partnerships with 5,483 runs, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. They now trail only Sachin Tendulkar–Sourav Ganguly (8,227) and Sangakkara–Mahela Jayawardene (5,992).
Reflecting on their long association, Kohli said their success was rooted in mutual understanding and situational awareness. “From early on, we both understood the game and each other. That’s why we’ve batted together for so long,” he said.
As the two stalwarts shared smiles and hugs at the SCG, their camaraderie and consistency once again reminded fans why they remain one of cricket’s most formidable duos — perhaps making their final Australian chapter a fitting farewell.
