The series marks the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who will play for India for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy final earlier this year. (Photo by AFP) NEW DELHI: Ahead of the first ODI against India, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has expressed hope that India’s legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not overdo their performances in the three-match series starting on October 19. The series marks the return of Rohit and Virat, two of India’s biggest stars, who will play for India for the first time this year since the first year of the ICC Championship.Reflecting on the experiences that Kohli and Rohit have faced during their careers, Marsh noted that the series presents a unique opportunity for Australian fans to witness the brilliance of the two legends.
Madness for Team India in Australia 1,75,000 tickets sold Madness for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
“I’ve had the privilege of playing against them a lot on the road. They’re legends of the game, of course. Virat, especially in this white-ball format, is the greatest player ever. I think you can see why the ticket sales are so high and why a lot of people come to watch them. And if it’s their last time on Australian soil, I hope they enjoy it and I hope people get to see them play in Australia, not too great but crick’s witnesses.” Marsh told the media.Ever since India last toured Australia for a bilateral series ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit and Virat have been in sensational form.Rohit played 23 ODIs during this period, scoring 1,137 runs at an average of 49.43 and a strike rate of 123.45, including two centuries and seven fifties. His highest score is 131. His remarkable 2023 World Cup campaign on home soil saw him amass 597 runs in 11 innings at an average of 54.27, with a century and three fifties and a hit of over 125. In India’s ICC Champions Trophy unbeaten run, he scored 180 runs in five innings, including a match-winning 76 in the final against New Zealand.Virat, meanwhile, has since amassed 1,154 runs in 22 matches at an average of 64.11. He hit four centuries and nine fifties, with a top score of 117 and a strike rate of 88.56, and continues to prove why he is one of the best white-ball batsmen in the world.
