In a spectacle that felt like a throwback to India’s dominant ODI era, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli orchestrated a clinical chase to hand India a resounding 9-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, 2025. Chasing a modest 237, the duo’s unbeaten 168-run stand—Rohit’s masterful 121 off 125 balls (his 33rd ODI ton) and Kohli’s composed 74 off 81 (his 75th ODI fifty)—propelled India to the target in just 38.3 overs, avoiding a 3-0 whitewash and delighting a packed SCG crowd. This could mark their swansong Down Under, but their vintage performance sent a resounding message: both veterans are far from done and eyeing the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The win caps a series where Australia clinched a 2-1 triumph—victories in Perth (7 wickets) and Adelaide (2 wickets)—but India’s consolation triumph was all about pride, prestige, and a reminder of the “RoKo” magic that has defined Indian cricket for over a decade.
Australia Innings: Rana’s Four-For Bundles Hosts for 236
Australia, batting first after winning the toss, started steadily but crumbled under pressure from India’s pace attack, particularly debutant Harshit Rana, who starred with 4/39 in a dream spell. Openers Travis Head (42 off 45) and Mitchell Marsh (28 off 38) laid a 72-run platform, but Rana’s breakthroughs triggered a middle-order collapse.
Key contributions came from Glenn Maxwell (unbeaten 48 off 52) and a gritty 37 from Josh Hazlewood (the last man out, bowled by a Rana yorker), but the innings folded in 46.4 overs. India’s spinners Axar Patel (2/32) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/45) supported the seamers, while Mohammed Siraj (1/48) chipped in. Australia never accelerated, managing only 4.98 runs per over, setting a gettable but tricky target on a pitch offering variable bounce.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs (Balls) | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Head | c KL Rahul b Harshit Rana | 42 (45) | 5 | 1 |
| Mitchell Marsh | lbw b Mohammed Siraj | 28 (38) | 3 | 0 |
| Steve Smith | c Shreyas Iyer b Axar Patel | 31 (42) | 2 | 0 |
| Glenn Maxwell | not out | 48 (52) | 4 | 1 |
| Josh Hazlewood | b Harshit Rana | 37 (45) | 3 | 0 |
| Extras | 18 | |||
| Total | 236 all out (46.4 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 72-1 (Marsh, 12.4 ov), 102-2 (Head, 18.2 ov), 145-3 (Smith, 25.6 ov), 172-4 (Labuschagne, 32.1 ov), 189-5 (Carey, 35.3 ov), 210-6 (Ellis, 39.2 ov), 236-7 (Hazlewood, 46.4 ov).
Bowling (India): Harshit Rana 9.4-0-39-4, Mohammed Siraj 10-0-48-1, Axar Patel 10-0-32-2, Kuldeep Yadav 9-0-45-1, Washington Sundar 8-0-40-0.
India Innings: RoKo Masterclass Crushes Australia
Shubman Gill’s early exit (27 off 25, caught behind off Josh Hazlewood) brought Kohli to the crease amid massive cheers—potentially his final Australian innings. Joining Rohit (who resumed his fluent form with boundaries galore), Kohli survived a nervy LBW scare (umpire’s call on review) before settling into rhythm. The pair equalled the iconic Sachin Tendulkar-Rahul Dravid record for India’s highest 2nd-wicket ODI stand against Australia (168*).
Rohit, reaching his 60th ODI fifty en route to three figures, dominated with elegant drives and pulls, while Kohli’s 70th chase fifty-plus score (most by any batter) featured crisp ramps and flicks. Kohli sealed the win with a boundary off Nathan Ellis, finishing the chase with 11.3 overs (68 balls) to spare. No other Indian batter faced more than 10 balls, underscoring the dominance.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs (Balls) | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | not out | 121 (125) | 12 | 3 |
| Shubman Gill | c †Carey b Hazlewood | 27 (25) | 4 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | not out | 74 (81) | 7 | 1 |
| Extras | 15 | |||
| Total | 240/1 (38.3 overs) |
Fall of Wickets: 43-1 (Gill, 6.2 ov).
Bowling (Australia): Josh Hazlewood 8-0-45-1, Mitchell Starc 7.3-0-52-0, Nathan Ellis 8-0-48-0, Adam Zampa 7-0-40-0, Cooper Connolly 4-0-30-0, Glenn Maxwell 4-0-22-0.
Post-Match Buzz: Farewell Vibes and 2027 Signals
The SCG rose in a standing ovation as Rohit and Kohli walked off, with Shubman Gill leading the hugs. Rohit, reflecting on his SCG love affair (third fifty here), said, “Always love coming here… Fond memories of 2008. Don’t know if we’ll be coming back, but we enjoy our cricket.” Kohli, bouncing back from two ducks, quipped, “Good to be out of the pond,” before praising the partnership’s intent.
Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh lauded the duo: “Class act… If that’s their last here, what a way to go.” The win boosts India’s NRR but can’t erase the series loss; however, it reignites debates on Rohit and Kohli’s futures, firmly quashing retirement whispers ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
