AUS vs IND | Rohit-Kohli wind back years to bid Aussie soil farewell with match-winning 168-run stand

India cruised to a thumping nine-wicket consolation win in the third ODI against Australia in Sydney, chasing down 237 within 39 overs. A clinical bowling performance was followed by a trademark Rohit Sharma ton and Virat Kohli knock while chasing, in potentially their last appearances Down Under.

Opting to bat first, Australia got off to a cautious start against the new ball as Mitchell Marsh played out a maiden off Mohammed Siraj to begin proceedings. Travis head struck the first boundary of the innings on the last ball of the third over with a gorgeous flick through midwicket, which seemed to get the engine going as his skipper also got into the attack to combine for seven more boundaries and a maximum across the next six overs. However, just when the duo seemed to be pulling away, Siraj delivered the first blow by generating some extra bounce to have Head caught at short third-man. Shubman Gill had the chance to make it two for the over with a run-out opportunity but failed to nail the direct hit from close distance, as Australia ended the powerplay at 63/1. The wicket and spread of field induced a slowdown in the scoring rates, and culminated in Axar Patel sneaking one through Marsh's attempted cut to rattle the stumps and send him packing for 41. Fellow spinners Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav were equally astute as they kept the scoring under check even as Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw attempted to rebuild with a 36-run stand, before the former ultimately succumbed against Sundar cortesy of a sharp catch by Virat Kohli at square leg. Alex Carey further dented the run rate upon his arrival, even as Renshaw kept busy at the other end, but India failed to capitalize as Krishna let slip a routine catch in the 30th over. However, Shreyas Iyer made up for it a few overs later with a running-back blinder to end the keeper's 37-ball struggle for 24 before hobbling off the field clutching his ribs. Nevertheless, Renshaw brought up a maiden ODI fifty off 48 balls featuring just two boundaries, but his footwork ended up causing his demise as he was pinned leg before by Sundar while dancing down the track to leave his team reeling at 195/5. Mitch Owen followed suit the next over with Rana delivering a terrifying riser to induce a thick edge, before Kuldeep sounded Mitchell Starc the death rattle as the Kangaroos collapses. Cooper Connolly tried to stitch together a rescue with Nathan Ellis as the duo added 22 but once the laughter lobbed a catch off Krishna, Rana hurriedly finished off proceedings by disaptching Connolly and Josh Hazlewood to end with 4/39 and set India a target of 237.
Forever Legends
Rohit and Virat haven't "come back". They just never went away.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Coming Strong
They are coming for 2027 World Cup!!!
— Dwight Schrute (@schrute91)
Game On
ROKO IS COMING FOR THE 2027 WORLD CUP. ❤ 🇮🇳 🐐
— @𝐀𝐤 (@AkshayS10462063)
ROKO!
Kohli and sharma 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Mrs.Yash (@Assh1619)
Perfect!
Picture perfect 👑
— AT_X (@akhiltiwari0101)
Roko on fire!
- 150+ partnership
— Rainbow Salt (@Rainbowsalt91)
- Not out till end
Brilliant!
Rare & absolutely brilliant partnership between CEAT tyres, MRF tyres & Apollo tyres powering India to a memorable win at Sydney Cricket Ground vs Australia.
— Ansuman Rath 🇮🇳 (@_AnsumanRath)
Yeah!
Feels like good old 2016-19 days, seeing these two smashing those boundaries.
— Erick Massey (@MasseyErick)
❤️
Ro-Ko ❤️❤️❤️
— Moवीमॅనబ్లోக்અર (@moviemanblogger)
On top!
ROHIT SHARMA IS NOW 3RD HIGHEST RUN SCORER FOR TEAM INDIA LEAVING BEHIND SOURAV GANGULY
— Raj Chauhan (@Raj_Chauhan45)
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