Sydney: Emotions are expected to run high when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma step onto the field for the third and final ODI against Australia on Saturday. Fans are bracing for what could be the duo’s last appearance in an ODI match on Australian soil.
Rohit Sharma offered a silver lining in the second ODI with a 73-run knock off 97 balls, while Kohli, struggling for form, has yet to open his account in this series — a first in his ODI career for consecutive matches. The situation has sparked speculation among fans about Kohli’s future in Australian conditions.
Both players share a long history with cricket Down Under. Rohit made his first tour in 2007-08, while Kohli debuted for the senior team in 2011-12, leaving a mark with a Test century in Adelaide. With no ODIs scheduled in Australia for the next two years, the Sydney clash is likely their farewell in this format on Australian soil.
Stakes and Expectations
Australia has already secured the series with victories in the first two ODIs, but the Sydney Cricket Ground crowd will be eager to see strong performances from Kohli and Rohit. For India, the final match is crucial to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, though past records in Sydney are not encouraging — India has won only one of their last five ODIs at the venue.
Captain Shubman Gill and Kohli will be under pressure to anchor the innings, while the team management, led by coach Gautam Gambhir, may need to rethink its strategy. India’s recent approach of strengthening the batting at the expense of experienced bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav has not yielded results, and reliance on part-time bowlers such as Axar Patel and Washington Sundar has left gaps in the bowling department.
Bowling Concerns
Young pacers like Harshit Rana have struggled with consistency, as evidenced by a noticeable drop in pace during his spells. Many analysts suggest replacing him with Prasidh Krishna to provide a more potent attack. Similarly, deploying Nitish Kumar Reddy at number eight has not impacted matches significantly, highlighting the need for a better balance between batting depth and bowling strength.
Australian Preparations
Australia appears to be using this series as a testing ground ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Players like Matthew Short, Mitchell Owen, and Cooper Connolly have shown composure under pressure, and Matt Kuhnemann may feature in the final match after a solid bowling performance earlier in the series.
Squads
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Matt Kuhnemann
The match is scheduled to start at 9:00 AM IST, promising a fitting farewell for India’s stalwarts and a critical test for the team’s bowling lineup.
