Sydney, 26 October 2025:
Under the glowing floodlights of the Sydney Cricket Ground, two of India’s greatest cricketers took a lap of honour that felt like a farewell. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, pillars of Indian batting for more than a decade, signed off from Australia in fitting fashion, with a commanding victory and a heartfelt “Thank you.”
A Night of Redemption
The third and final ODI was technically a dead rubber as Australia had already claimed the series, but the contest turned into a celebration of two legends. India bowled Australia out for 236 before Rohit’s unbeaten 121 off 125 balls and Kohli’s fluent 74 not out from 81 deliveries guided the visitors to a nine-wicket win with 69 balls to spare. Their 168-run stand for the second wicket was a throwback to their finest days, authoritative, elegant and unhurried.
For Rohit, it was his 33rd ODI century and ninth against Australia. For Kohli, it was redemption after two successive ducks earlier in the series. As he clipped his first run to midwicket, the crowd rose, a collective nod to a familiar master finding his rhythm again.
More Than Just Runs
The occasion carried emotion that transcended the scoreboard. The SCG, a venue that has seen both men at their best and worst, offered a fitting stage for reflection.
“I’ve always loved coming here,” Rohit said after the match. “A lot of good memories, some bad ones too, but overall, I’ll cherish the cricket I’ve played here.”
Kohli echoed the sentiment, his voice steady but warm. “We’ve loved coming to this country and playing in front of such amazing crowds. Thank you, Australia, for welcoming us so well.”
The pair shared a long handshake before walking the boundary ropes, waving to fans holding “Ro-Ko Forever” banners. Even Australian supporters stood to applaud, acknowledging two visiting greats who had earned their respect.
The Curtain Call
It was not officially announced as a farewell, but the message was clear. Rohit hinted at finality when he admitted, “I don’t know if we’ll be coming back to Australia.”
Their partnership represented more than just prolific numbers. Together, they embodied the evolution of India’s white-ball batting, a blend of aggression, control and camaraderie that redefined an era. That this moment unfolded at the SCG, where many of their milestones were written, lent it poetic symmetry.
Legacy and Beyond
Saturday’s stand was their first century partnership since January 2020, a reminder of what Indian fans had long missed. The series may have ended 2-1 in Australia’s favour, but this night belonged to the visitors, to nostalgia and to closure.
Over the years, the pair have conquered Australia in every format: Kohli’s fighting hundreds in Adelaide, Rohit’s majestic double at Sydney, their shared resilience in the 2018–19 triumph. Their goodbye wasn’t a defeat; it was a salute to a country that helped shape their greatness.
The Final Ovation
As players from both sides joined in applause and chants of “Rohit, Kohli!” echoed through the stands, the moment transcended cricket. Fans draped in both blue and gold waved flags and camera lights, capturing the end of an era.
“Thank you, Australia” was more than a parting line. It was gratitude for the rivalries, the challenges, the memories.
For Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, it was a curtain call befitting two men who defined Indian cricket’s golden age. And as they disappeared up the SCG stairs one last time, they left behind a legacy too vast for scoreboards to measure.
