Virat Kohli’s arrival at the crease in the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday was met with awe and nostalgia as Australian commentators and fans alike relished his last innings in Indian colors on Australian soil.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!“Hold on because while the captain flies away, the King is about to make his final arrival on Australian shores in Indian colours. Ladies and gentlemen… here he is, Virat Kohli,” said Adam White on Sen Cricket. “As you would expect, as we always see, he marches with intent. Probably the best one-day record in the history of the game.”
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Trent Copeland added: “You have to pinch yourself sometimes, Whitey? That we are here for the moment. The guy has been at the center of seismic shifts in cricket. The best one-day record without a doubt.”The SCG crowd erupted when Kohli took his first single, prompting White to remark: “Listen to the crowd. It’s like he’s just made a century.” Copeland highlighted the subtle celebration, noting Kohli’s punching and playful banter with the non-striker: “He’s laughing at non-strikers and punching. He’s human, the guy.”Kohli’s return to form was instrumental in India’s nine-wicket win over Australia, even as the visitors lost the series 1-2. After Harshita Rana’s brilliant 4/39 restricted Australia to 236, Rohit Sharma (121*) anchored the chase. Kohli complemented him with a fighting 74 and 81 balls to form an unbeaten 168-run partnership that allowed India to complete the match in 38.3 overs.The shift was historic. Kohli overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second highest run-getter in ODIs and surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in all of limited-overs international cricket, amassing 18,438 runs in ODIs and T20Is combined. He also registered his 70th 50-over score during ODI run-chases, surpassing Tendulkar’s 69.Reflecting on the moment, White added, “It’s hard not to be nervous … you don’t want the show to end. You want it to go on.” Copeland echoed the sentiment: “It’s the characters that really carry the game … he’s the guy who stands up and wins for his team and his nation.”As Kohli walked off the field, nodding and fist-pumping in celebration, it was a reminder of his monumental journey – the last time on Australian soil, which left fans and commentators alike with goosebumps and memories to cherish forever.
