AUS vs IND, third ODI: India appears to keep away from whitewash in potential Australian swansong of Rohit-Kohli

The emotional quotient might be at an all-time excessive, with a number of followers — with moistened eyes — anticipated to witness an embattled Virat Kohli and his accomplice in lots of a combat, Rohit Sharma, taking part in in what could possibly be their final look on Australian soil within the third ODI, right here on Saturday.

Whereas Rohit has rightfully earned some respiration area with a preventing 73 off 97 balls within the second ODI, albeit in a misplaced trigger, Kohli’s back-to-back geese — his first in worldwide cricket — have made his die-hard followers ponder whether or not that is the start of the tip.

Kohli again to the pavilion after getting dismissed on consecutive geese for the primary time in his worldwide profession, in Adelaide, Australia.
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AP

Rohit first got here right here for the CB Sequence in 2007-08, whereas Kohli’s first tour with the senior staff was within the 2011-12 season when he made an instantaneous affect with a Take a look at century at Adelaide.

With no ODI sequence in Australia within the subsequent two years, the duo may probably by no means be seen once more Down Beneath in India blues.

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Whether or not Kohli, specifically, continues to play after the Australia sequence is a matter of conjecture, however the ultimate ODI on the iconic SCG might be greater than a mere useless rubber.

In Sydney, followers would wish to see these punchy cowl drives, on-drives and the inside-out lofted shot over further cowl to come back out of the closet from the modern-day legend.

Kohli in motion in his first tour of Australia within the 2011-12 season at The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia.
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Getty Pictures

Within the broader context, Gautam Gambhir-coached India will hope to keep away from a 0-3 whitewash, which will definitely not look nice, though the ODI World Cup is 2 years away.

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To make issues worse, within the final 5 ODIs between India and Australia on the SCG, the ‘Males in Blue’ have gained solely as soon as. Skipper Shubman Gill and Kohli are each due for an enormous knock, and Gambhir will anticipate each to fireside within the ultimate sport.

Clinically outwitted within the final two video games, a battered Indian facet might be eager to revisit its template of shoring up the batting at the price of compromising on bowling sources, particularly ignoring a participant like Kuldeep Yadav, who may have been greater than a handful on the Adelaide Oval, the place the Australian batters struggled to learn Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

From the primary two video games, the one takeaway has been Axar punching above his weight, enhancing as a batter and bowling regular overs.

Axar (centre) celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s Matt Renshaw through the second ODI in Adelaide, Australia.
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AP

Australia, in the meantime, has began its two-year journey in direction of the subsequent ODI World Cup in earnest. The likes of Matthew Brief, Mitchell Owen and Cooper Connolly have displayed tactful smartness in the case of planning and execution beneath stress.

Within the taking part in eleven, Matt Kuhnemann, who tormented India within the rain-curtailed opening sport, would possibly be part of forces with Adam Zampa.

Printed on Oct 25, 2025