Sydney masterclass revives belief in India’s veteran duo
With the series already lost, the final ODI in Sydney offered little in terms of stakes — yet it turned out to be a defining moment for Indian cricket. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of India’s most celebrated batters, stitched together a commanding 168-run unbeaten partnership to hand India a nine-wicket win and avoid a whitewash. More importantly, their performance quelled speculation about their future, reinforcing that they remain central to India’s ODI ambitions.
Kohli, who had endured back-to-back ducks in the first two matches, returned to form with an unbeaten 74, while Rohit struck a fluent 121*, marking his 33rd ODI ton. Their synergy at the crease was reminiscent of their peak years and served as a reminder that experience still has its place in a fast-evolving side.
Gavaskar clears the air on Kohli’s Adelaide gesture
Before the Sydney turnaround, a subdued Kohli had raised eyebrows during the Adelaide ODI. Dismissed for a duck, he acknowledged the crowd with raised gloves — a gesture many interpreted as a potential farewell.
Sunil Gavaskar, however, urged fans not to read too much into it.
“No, no, no. Don’t read too much into that gesture. The ovation he got when he came to bat was great. There were Indian supporters as well as Australian supporters who gave him such a great ovation. Especially the Australian fans gave him such an ovation, he acknowledged them. Because from where the players come out, there’s a members’ enclosure. Members mean the people who have played first class cricket, test cricket. So he gave them that acknowledgement. Don’t read too much into it,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak.
The legendary cricketer added that Kohli would not walk away on a low note.
“He’ll surely play in Sydney. Kohli is not a player who gives up. Do you think he’ll go out after scoring 0,0? No way. He’ll go out on a high. There was no signal. After Sydney, it’ll be the ODIs vs South Africa at home. There are many more ODIs. I’ll say that 2027 is the target for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,” he continued.
Gavaskar also defended Kohli’s recent form, highlighting his prolific career.
“Look, the man has more than 14,000 runs, 52 ODI centuries, and I think 32 Test centuries. He’s scored thousands and thousands of runs, so he’s allowed a couple of failures. Don’t read too much into what has happened — there’s plenty of cricket left, plenty of cricket ahead,” he added.
Ashwin, Warner, and Shastri weigh in on 2027 prospects
Ravichandran Ashwin was among the many voices applauding the experienced pair’s resurgence. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he praised Rohit’s transformation and Kohli’s tenacity.
“Rohit is looking proper fit and lean, he is able to run and is getting going. The quality of batting is always there, but if you are fit, you lose weight, you are able to feel light, your skill will take over. Rohit is looking a million dollars. He is looking all set and poised.”
“I do not understand why some people did not expect him to score. He has been one of your best white-ball batters over the decade or so. I was always very confident that he and Virat would both make runs. Virat was not at his best, but still he found a way to get those runs. The straight-drive he played was a sight to behold. All his fans will be very happy today.”
Ashwin further reflected on Rohit’s evolution over the years:
“The first is where he came in at first, he was talented and was batting in the middle. But he was not the Rohit he became when he opened for the first time in the 2013 Champions Trophy. But I feel this is 3.0 now. He played a very flamboyant style of cricket when he was captain, but under the current regime, you can see that 2013–2016 Rohit. I think he is going to continue churning these runs. He is moving nicely around the crease and looking light on his feet. This is a great sign for Rohit and India.”
On Kohli, Ashwin added:
“Virat looked like he is properly enjoying himself. I think it is in his mind now that whatever he is playing now is a real gift for him and he has to enjoy this phase of his career. The whole stadium was clapping for him when he took the first single.”
David Warner echoed the sentiment, telling Fox Cricket:
“I think that’s a good question for Virat. If you have still got the hunger and the desire to keep playing, and he wants to play in 2027, and his mindset is there, there’s no reason why he can’t. He’s one of the fittest guys in the game along with being a great father and a husband. So for me, I’ve got no doubts he can make that. It’s whether or not he still has that passion to get up for training and for doing all the stuff that you have to get there. And I would never doubt that at all with his mindset.”
Ravi Shastri, also speaking to Fox Cricket, said he believes it will come down to mindset.
“If that drive is there, he will stay fit, because there’s no question he’s still very fit. It’s about form. That is crucial. So I guess in his case, he’ll take it one series at a time and then see how he is mentally. He’ll have no problems physically, but it’s the mental part of it, that hunger and desire. If that is still there, and he’s enjoying it, I think he’ll carry on.”
Kaif and selectors: Pressure from within?
Mohammad Kaif offered a candid take on the scrutiny both players face. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif pointed to internal pressure and criticism.
“In the back of their mind, they know that people are waiting for them to fail. There are selectors and some media people. Ab to zid bhi hai Virat Kohli ki, Rohit Sharma ki. Look at their face, they appeared focused but calm. They have that extra determination. They will be determined to go on their terms in this format and not to give anyone a chance to remove them from the team.”
Kaif was clear in his belief that both should be part of India’s 2027 World Cup squad.
“In South Africa, it is a must to have Rohit and Virat in the squad because of the experience they bring along. You need Rohit Sharma on South Africa’s bouncy track. Same with Virat. He plays well on fast, bouncy strips. Rohit Sharma has shown that age is just a number. You only fix things when they’re broken. People support Rohit and Virat because they know they haven’t done anything wrong.”
Voices from BCCI: A cautious but open outlook
Following India’s win over West Indies earlier this year, head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed questions about Kohli and Rohit’s future in a press conference.
“The 50-over World Cup is still two and a half years away. It is very important to stay in the present. Obviously, they are quality players. They are coming back. Their experience is going to be valuable in Australia. Hopefully, those two guys can have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we can have a successful series.”
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar offered a more neutral stance during the press conference announcing the squad for the Australia series.
“I mean, that’s the format they are at the moment playing (Virat and Rohit). We picked them, but as far as the 2027 World Cup is concerned. I don’t think we need to talk about it today. Obviously, with the captaincy change, that’s generally the thought.”
Kohli finds his rhythm again
Reflecting on his performance, Kohli was open about the mental challenge he faced after two failures. Speaking in a post-match comment to the Fox Cricket, he said:
“Good to be out of the pond, honestly. I am kind of lost. You scored so many runs in international cricket but then the game shows you everything even at this stage. You know, almost 37 in not many days and still feel like, don’t know how to get a run. I mean this game is amazing. That’s we love batting, we love batsmanship.”
Kohli added that having Rohit at the other end made things easier.
“It’s so challenging when it is not going your way and you have just to find your rhythm again. Of course, you know, going out there, having a situation to play, and always is something that always brings out the best in me. And yeah when Rohit is already batting already there, it is pretty easy to kind of keep rotating strike. You understand each other’s game pretty well. So again really good to have a good partnership and another match-winning partnership for us,” he added.
Their unbeaten partnership not only helped India avoid a whitewash but also reaffirmed their relevance and resilience in the ODI format. As the road to the 2027 World Cup continues to be a subject of discussion, the performances of Kohli and Rohit in Sydney served as a powerful reminder of their enduring class and value to the Indian team — not just as veterans, but as match-winners capable of shaping outcomes even in a changing cricketing landscape.
