AUS VS IND 3RD ODI

Right, this draws this highly anticipated ODI series to a close. Now, the attention turns towards the shortest format as a spicy 5-match T20I series awaits. It all begins with the first T20I at the Manuka Oval in the capital city of Canberra. It will be played on Wednesday, 29th October, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT). But do join us for all the pre-match buzz and analysis an hour earlier. We hope that you liked our coverage of this series as we wrap. Join us for the T20Is, but there is plenty of cricketing action going on elsewhere to follow. But from this match center, it is a goodbye, only to meet soon. Take care, cheers.

The Australian captain, Mitchell Marsh, is now requested to collect the trophy from one of the dignitaries. He receives it and joins his teammates to celebrate their 2-1 series victory over India in this three-match ODI contest, gathering together for the commemorative team photographs with broad smiles and joyous faces. They outplayed the Indians in the first two ODIs and are the worthy winners of the series with a bunch of positives to take away.

The captain of Australia, Mitchell Marsh, reflects on the defeat. He starts by acknowledging that Rohit and Virat have been doing this for more than a decade against top teams around the world. Admits Australia needed one more solid partnership in the latter stages of their first innings after being well placed at 3 for 195, but couldn't capitalize on that platform. He credits India for being too strong with the bat in this game. Praises the experienced players who came into the squad like Renshaw and Ellis, saying the team can be proud of sealing the series in just two matches.

The victorious captain of India, Shubman Gill, says that it was a near-perfect game for them. Adds that Australia got to a good start, but it was pleasing to see how they pulled things back. Mentions that the spinners did well in the middle overs and then the pacers backed it up. Praises Harshit for his performance and says he bowled fast in the middle overs, which is what they want in the team. Mentions that Rohit and Kohli have done this for so many years and it is a delight to watch them bat. Ends by saying that it is a special feeling for him to get his first ODI win as a captain at a special ground.

India's Rohit Sharma is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AND THE SERIES for his contributions with the bat. He scored 202 runs in the series, including an unbeaten century, and at an average of 101. He starts by acknowledging that scoring runs in Australian conditions is never straightforward. Underscores the importance of reading the conditions and giving it your all. Mentions that despite the long gap since his last game, he put in solid preparation ahead of the series. Concedes the series loss but insists there are plenty of positives to take away, especially for a young squad that will learn immensely from this experience. Reflects on how senior players guided him when he was starting out, and says it's now his responsibility to pass on that knowledge and help the team build strong strategies. He states he focuses on the fundamentals and genuinely enjoys playing in Australia. Also shares his fond memories of playing at the SCG, calling it a fantastic venue with an incredible crowd. Ends by saying that he loves what he does and hopes to continue doing that.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

The two stalwarts of India, and the match-winners of this game, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, walk up for a chat with Ravi Shastri and Adam Gilchrist. Rohit says that he has always loved coming here and playing cricket in Australia. Adds that it brings back memories of 2008 when he first came here. Says that he does not know whether he and Kohli will be coming back to Australia or not, but they have thoroughly enjoyed their cricket. Mentions that they wanted to forget what they have achieved in the last 15-17 years and start afresh in this series. He reflects that he has good and bad memories here, but overall, he will take cricket, which he has played here. Kohli says that it is nice to be out of the pond. Adds that it doesn't matter how many runs you have scored before, and points out that this game shows you something even at this stage that how challenging it is when things don't go your way. Mentions that it feels easy to bat with Rohit nd he is glad it was a match-winning stand. Says that they understood their game from early on, which is what makes you successful. Tell that even back in the day, they thought they could take the game away from the opposition. It all started in 2013 against Australia in the ODIs at home. Further adds that the opposition knew if they batted around 20 overs, the game was sealed. Both of them end by acknowledging the support from the Australian fans and say they have loved playing here, and the support has been brilliant throughout the years.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first. The visitors surged through the Powerplay, plundering 63 runs as Marsh and Head feasted on the Indian pace attack's wayward lines and lack of variation. Momentum shifted dramatically once spin entered the attack. Sundar, Kuldeep and Axar tightened the screws through the middle overs, picking wickets at regular intervals to stall the scoring. Australia's top five all made starts beyond 20 but failed to kick on. Renshaw was the exception, compiling a solid half-century and combining with Carey in a 59-run stand that steadied the innings before India hit back ruthlessly in the 31-40 over phase. Ellis flickered with a cameo before Australia were bowled out for 236, falling short of their allotted overs. After a string of underwhelming performances, Harshit Rana roared back with a superb four-wicket haul, while Washington Sundar strangled the batters with his economy, snaring two wickets in a stellar spell.

Australia went in with just four frontline bowlers, relying on part-time options to fill the gaps, and it showed. Once Kohli notched his fifty and Rohit motored to a hundred, walking through several milestones in between, the Aussies lost their edge. For the first time in the series, they looked defeated, deflated, and lacking any real bite or desperation to force a breakthrough as the target slipped below three figures. From there, Rohit and Kohli, or the famed Ro-Ko, just hurried through and helped India to get a consolation win and saved their side from an embarrassing whitewash, winning this by 9 wickets and 11.3 overs to spare.

Gill fell to Hazlewood immediately after the Powerplay, and that was the only wicket that fell, bringing Virat to the middle. What followed was a vintage experience at work. Rohit and Kohli stitched together a composed partnership, drawing on their wealth of know-how to guide a chase that was already cruising. Kohli, stung by consecutive ducks in Perth and Adelaide, looked determined from the get-go. They together compiled 168 runs with trademark elegance, treating the crowd to those familiar strokes they'd come to love. No unnecessary risks, no extravagance. Just clean, textbook batting by both, with the basics of strike rotation nailed to perfection.

With favorable batting conditions and a modest target of 237 to chase, India needed a solid platform against Starc and Hazlewood's new-ball threat. They got exactly that. The surface offered minimal lateral movement, allowing Rohit and Gill to settle quickly, though there was decent bounce, which both handled confidently. Rohit attacked aggressively, peppering the boundary, while Gill played the anchor role with composure. India cruised to 68 without loss at the end of the Powerplay, setting the perfect foundation for a moderate run chase.

A fairytale finish, orchestrated by two legends of Indian cricket. Flawless doesn't even begin to capture how perfectly this chase was executed. Two icons of Indian cricket, with over 25,000 ODI runs shared between them, delivered the picture-perfect finale the fans craved. However, the series belongs to Australia, who clinch it 2-1 despite India's commanding victory at Sydney. A heartfelt embrace between Rohit and Kohli is met with the entire Australian side gathering around them, applauding their performance with genuine respect, for what could probably be their final appearance on Aussie soil. As per the stats, this is India's first ODI win at the Sydney Cricket Ground since 2016.

FOUR! Done and dusted! Virat Kohli hits the winning runs! Nathan Ellis bangs in a bouncer, on middle. Kohli waits for it, opens his bat face like a frying pan, and ramps it over the keeper's head for a boundary. INDIA WIN BY 9 WICKETS!

Fuller and on middle, Rohit Sharma flicks it to deep square leg for a run. India just one hit away from the victory now.

Back of a length and on middle, slower too, Virat Kohli punches it to long on for a single.

Short and on leg, Virat Kohli nudges it through square leg for one more.

Flatter, full and on leg, Rohit Sharma works it through mid-wicket for one.