Virat Kohli has once again shown why he thrives under pressure, bringing up his 75th ODI fifty and ending his lean run in emphatic style. The star batter, who walked into this match under immense scrutiny after back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs, raised his bat to a rousing standing ovation at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Facing Cooper Connolly, Kohli flicked a flighted delivery on leg stump wide of mid-wicket to bring up his milestone. As the crowd erupted, the 36-year-old smiled and acknowledged their cheers — a moment of redemption after a challenging tour. This could potentially be his last ODI in Australia, making the innings even more symbolic.
At the other end, Rohit Sharma has been in sublime touch, anchoring the chase with a composed 78 off 85 balls. Together, the two senior pros have stitched a 100-run partnership off 105 deliveries, reminding everyone why they are still India’s most dependable pair in white-ball cricket.
The “Ro-Ko” partnership — a fan-favorite moniker for Rohit and Kohli — is back in full flow, with India now cruising at 169/1 after 27.5 overs, needing just 68 runs to win.
After two quiet games, Kohli’s poise and timing have returned, silencing critics who doubted his rhythm. The roar at the SCG said it all — the King is back, and he’s scripting his own comeback story, one run at a time.
