For likely one final time in Australia, Virat Kohli reminded the Sydney Cricket Ground—and the cricketing world—why he is one of the greatest ODI batters of all time. Kohli finished unbeaten on 74 to guide India to victory in front of a raucous, predominantly Indian crowd.
For likely one final time in Australia, Virat Kohli turned back the clock at the Sydney Cricket Ground, crafting an unbeaten 74 to shepherd India to victory in front of a full house—most clad in blue, waving flags, and perhaps trying to out-cheer each other. The evening was equal parts celebration and nostalgia, with the highest and third-highest centurions of ODI cricket—Kohli and Rohit Sharma—sharing moments heavy with emotion amid the raucous applause.
Freed from the pressures of being a three-format player and having spent long, leisurely months with his family in London, Kohli has been in buoyant spirits throughout the tour. There were smiles, handshakes, and selfies after training sessions. The man is 37, yes—but clearly, he’s aged like fine wine—or a vintage bat that only gets sweeter with time.
But let’s rewind a bit. The first two ODIs against Australia were well, let’s call them “learning experiences.” Kohli, arguably the greatest ODI batter of all time, had registered consecutive ducks in Perth and Adelaide. The chatter was relentless. Could the King still summon fire for the South Africa series? Did he even have enough left in the tank for the 2027 ODI World Cup?
The SCG, though, has a way of humbling those doubts. India were asked to chase, and it felt almost scripted: Kohli walking to the crease, the weight of expectation on his shoulders, and yet that glimmer in his eye promising, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Even before Kohli faced a ball, the SCG was alive. In Australia’s 23rd over, he had snatched a sharp catch at square leg to dismiss Matt Short. Anyone with their back to the action—grabbing a coffee, taking a selfie, or pretending to check the scoreboard—might have missed it. The roar, though, ensured nobody could ignore what had just happened.
KOHLI WALKS OUT TO BAT
The entire Sydney Cricket Ground seemed to breathe and stand in unison as Virat Kohli strode out to bat in the third ODI against Australia on Saturday, October 25. Every fan, player, and perhaps even the guy selling hotdogs in the stands seemed to know the stakes. This could very well be Kohli’s last hurrah on Australian soil. With India’s next Down Under tour nowhere on the horizon, the 36-year-old’s innings felt like the closing scene of a long, glittering chapter in a career that has been nothing short of epic.
Walking to the crease alongside Rohit Sharma, Kohli exuded calm purpose. The first run unleashed a wave of cheers, bhangra beats echoed across the stands, and Kohli smiled knowingly, as if to say, “Yes, I remember how this is done.” Redemption after two ducks? Check. Crowd-pleasing? Check. Magic? Oh yes, buckets of that, too.
The first-ball single to mid-on drew a deafening cheer and a modest glove-raise from Kohli—a little nod to the crowd, a small atonement for the twin failures of earlier matches. He followed with a late cut against Adam Zampa, a top-edged pull against Hazlewood, and then—oh, the pice de rsistance—a crisp straight drive off Starc, as if to say, “This is still my playground.”
AUS vs IND, 3rd ODI: Highlights | Scorecard
From there, it was a symphony of singles and boundaries, punctuated with drama. Nathan Ellis struck Kohli’s pads, prompting a DRS review. The TV umpire sided with the on-field decision: not out. Relief washed over the “Chase Master.” By now, he was on 36, and momentum was fully his.
Fifty came off 56 balls. Seventy 50-plus scores in ODI chases—the most by any batter, overtaking Tendulkar’s 69. Crossing 54, he became the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara’s 14,234 with 14,255. Only Tendulkar’s 18,426 lies ahead.
Watching Kohli bat like this is a lesson in patience, precision—and, if you’re an opponent, frustration. Even affable Australian captain Mitchell Marsh looked a little glum, helpless before such mastery. A crisp four off Ellis brought the chase to its inevitable conclusion. Australian players crowded around Rohit and Kohli, clapping and shaking hands—respect, unreserved and genuine.
THE ICON BIDS GOODBYE
Post-match, the duo faced Ravi Shastri and Adam Gilchrist for Fox Cricket. Shastri couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at Kohli about his earlier ducks. The response? Delightfully human:
“Good to be out of the pond, honestly,” Kohli said like a true student of the game, drawing huge cheers. “You’ve scored so many runs in international cricket, but then the game shows you everything. Even at this stage, 37 and not many days old and still can feel like I don’t know how to get a run. I mean this game is amazing.
“That’s why we love batting, we love batsmanship, and it’s so challenging when it’s not going your way and just to find your rhythm again. Go out there, having a situation to play in always is something that always brings out the best in me. And yeah, when Rohit’s already batting there, it’s pretty easy to kind of keep rotating strike. We understand each other’s game really well. So again, really good to have a big partnership and another match-finishing partnership for us.”
Kohli, one of the most famous foreign athletes in Australia—a country that has long treated him as both icon and antagonist—could finally enjoy a sweet moment. Over the years, shameless tabloids and taunting fans had whipped up drama, but Kohli always backed his words with deeds. Saturday night, with a smile and an unbeaten knock, was proof: a fond farewell from fans who can be hard-bitten but fair.
Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/virat-kohli-ind-vs-aus-sydney-odi-2808445-2025-10-26
