In a heartwarming scene ahead of the third ODI between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), ace Indian batter Virat Kohli was spotted sharing a light conversation with former Australia opener David Warner on Saturday, October 25.
The two veterans, who have faced each other countless times in international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), exchanged smiles and a warm embrace during India’s warm-up session before the toss. The meeting took place on Warner’s home ground, the venue where he played his final Test earlier in 2024.
Warner and Kohli’s rivalry and mutual respect go back years — from their iconic face-off in the 2016 IPL Final, where Warner led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to their maiden title against Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), to numerous high-intensity duels in international cricket.
Interestingly, both superstars bid farewell to Test cricket at the SCG, with Kohli playing his final red-ball match during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, opting to retire ahead of the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
As for the ongoing ODI series, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh once again won the toss and elected to bat first, with the hosts aiming for a 3–0 whitewash after their victories in Perth and Adelaide.
Warner had previously lauded Kohli after his Test retirement, calling him an “absolute legend of our game,” a sentiment that clearly carried through in their latest on-field reunion.
