Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli partner India to victory against Australia

India closed their Australian ODI tour with a resounding nine-wicket victory in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground, chasing down a modest Australian total of 236 with a masterful, unbeaten partnership between Rohit Sharma (121*) and Virat Kohli (74*). It wasn’t just the margin, but the assured way they dismantled Australia’s bowling — and the storylines within — that redefined the end of a bruising series.​

The series, secured 2-1 by Australia, had already slipped away from India’s grasp after Adelaide. Still, you could sense this third ODI carried weight — a chance to show resilience, pride, and, for Sharma and Kohli, perhaps a final bow together in Australia. Kohli had started the series with two consecutive ducks. Questions loomed: Were Australia’s quicks finally on top of him? Could Rohit, enduring his own lean run, take command on a ground that’s seen his vintage work before?

What followed was a blend of precision, narrative symmetry, and — dare you say it? — closure.

Put in to bat, Australia navigated a brisk but shaky start. Mitchell Marsh, winning his third toss of the series, produced familiar intent with a steady 41. Travis Head’s 29 took him to 3000 ODI runs faster than any previous Australian man, the openers laying a solid foundation.​

Matt Renshaw, forging his own claim ahead of the Ashes, provided stability with a measured 56 (his maiden ODI fifty) from 58 balls. Yet, what should have been an imposing platform at 183 for 3 unraveled spectacularly: Australia lost 7 wickets for just 53 runs, slumping to 236 all out with 20 balls unused.​

Harshit Rana has been receiving unwelcome taunts over social media for a few weeks now. But finally, the 23-year-old provided some relief to his coach with a career best 4-39. India’s spinners — Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar - scalped four between them to pin the Aussies down from a tight corner. Kohli produced a brilliant catch to dismiss the dangerous Matt Short, while Rana’s late burst left Australia’s tail exposed. Strikingly, all of Australia’s top six reached at least 23 but none carried on.

With only 237 required, India’s innings was a study in calm execution — and a throwback to the era when chases were built on accumulation and patience. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a platform, handling Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood’s opening bursts with control. Gill fell for 24, edging Hazlewood after a quickfire six off Connolly, but by then, the SCG was already humming for Kohli’s entrance.​

What followed was vintage excellence. Rohit, blending timing with power, brought up his 33rd ODI hundred from 105 balls with a drive down the ground. His knock included audacious inside-out lofts off Adam Zampa and a powerful slog-sweep six. Kohli glided into form with an off-driven boundary and grew visibly looser — arms-aloft and all smiles after getting off the mark.​

The pair compiled an unbroken 168-run stand in 170 balls. One telling visual: after sending Starc to the midwicket fence late on, Rohit offered Kohli a knowing glove punch. This wasn’t just any stand; it was the most substantial for India in ODIs in Australia since Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly’s heyday.

Kohli enjoyed some luck — an lbw shout on 36 scraped past on DRS by millimeters — but otherwise looked fluent, finishing the chase with a deft late cut to deep third. India won with 69 balls to spare, a margin and manner of victory that will put some balm on the series loss.​

• Harshit Rana (4/39): The difference-maker. His ability to extract movement late and target the stumps gave India control in the middle and closing overs.​
• Rohit Sharma (121 off 125):* His ninth ODI century against Australia — fitting, given his legacy here. Struck 13 fours and 3 sixes, toying with the field expertly.
• Australia’s collapse: From 183 for 3 to 236 all out, illustrating a lack of finishing from their batters — and perhaps a lack of readiness for slower surfaces as the innings wore on.

Given how Kohli had started the series, critics might have expected an Australian sweep and cited Kohli’s decline. Instead, both Rohit and Kohli demonstrated, yet again, the difference experience and adaptability make in unfamiliar conditions.

India leave with a 2-1 series defeat but crucial takeaways for their World Cup planning: middle-order steadiness, the emergence of Harshit Rana, and a parting confidence boost for senior batters.

But this match will be remembered for a memorable final hurrah down under for the Rohit - Virat duo, who are unlikely to tour Australia again in Indian colours.