Virat Kohli turned back the clock on the Sydney Cricket Ground for probably the last time in Australia, making an unbeaten 74 to fire India to victory in front of a packed house – mostly in blue, waving flags and perhaps trying to cheer each other on. The evening was equal parts celebration and nostalgia, with ODI cricket’s highest and third highest centurions – Kohli and Rohit Sharma – sharing an emotional moment amid thunderous applause.
Freed from the pressure of being a three-format player and having spent long and quiet months with his family in London, Kohli was in good spirits throughout the tour. There were smiles, handshakes and selfies after practice. The man is 37, yes – but it’s clear he’s aged like fine wine – or an old bat that gets sweeter with time.
But let’s go back a bit. The first two ODIs against Australia were good, let’s call them “learning experiences”. Arguably the greatest ODI batsman of all time, Kohli registered back-to-back ducks in Perth and Adelaide. The gossip was relentless. Could the King still summon the fire for the South Africa series? Does he even have enough left in the tank for the 2027 ODI World Cup?
However, SCG has a way of subduing those doubts. India were asked to chase him and it felt almost scripted: Kohli strode to the crease, the weight of expectation on his shoulders, yet the glint in his eyes promised, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Even before Kohli faced the ball, the SCG was alive. In Australia’s 23rd over, he took a sharp catch at square leg to dismiss Matt Short. Anyone with their back to the action – drinking coffee, taking selfies or pretending to check the scoreboard – might have missed it. However, the roar made sure that no one could ignore what had just happened.
KOHLI COMES OUT TO BAT
The entire Sydney Cricket Ground seemed to breathe and stand in unison as Virat Kohli stepped out to bat in the third ODI against Australia on Saturday 25 October. Every fan, player, and maybe even the hot dog vendor at the stands seemed to know what it was all about. This could well be Kohli’s last hurray on Australian soil. With another Indian tour Down Under nowhere on the horizon, the 36-year-old’s innings felt like the final scene of a long, glittering chapter in a career that was nothing short of epic. Virat Kohli goes out to bat at the SCG. (AP photo)
Walking into the crease next to Rohit Sharma, Kohli exuded calm purpose. The first run unleashed a wave of cheers, bhangra beats echoed through the stands and Kohli smiled knowingly as if to say, “Yes, I remember how it’s done.” Redemption after two ducks? Control. A crowd pleaser? Control. Magic? Oh yes, buckets of it too.
A single from the first ball to mid-off drew deafening cheers and a modest lifting of the glove from Kohli – a small nod to the crowd, a small atonement for the twin failures of the previous matches. There was a late cut against Adam Žampa, a superb move against Hazlewood and then – oh, the best – a sharp direct drive from Starc as if to say: “This is still my pitch.”
AUS vs IND, 3rd ODI: Highlighting | Scorecard
From there it was a symphony of singles and boundaries, laced with drama. Nathan Ellis hit Kohli’s pads, prompting a DRS review. The TV referee sided with the on-pitch decision: not out. Relief flooded the ‘Chase Master’. He was now 36 and the momentum was all his.
The fifty came off 56 balls. Seventy 50-plus runs in ODI runs – the most by any batsman, eclipsing Tendulkar’s 69. He crossed 54 to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara’s 14,234 with 14,255. Only Tendulkar’s 18,426 is ahead of us.
Watching Kohli bat is a lesson in patience, precision and, if you’re the opponent, frustration. Even Australia’s affable captain Mitchell Marsh looked a little glum, helpless in the face of such a championship. A sharp four by Ellis brought the chase to an inevitable end. The Australian players crowded around Rohit and Kohli, clapping and shaking hands – respectful, unreserved and genuine.
THE ICON SAYS GOODBYE
After the match, the pair took on Ravi Shastri and Adam Gilchrist for Fox Cricket. Shastri couldn’t resist taking a cheeky dig at Kohli about his earlier ducks. Response? Amazingly Human:
“It’s good to be out of the pond, honestly,” Kohli said like a true student of the game to huge cheers. “You score so many runs in international cricket but then the game shows you everything. Even at this stage, you’re 37 and not many days out and you still feel like I don’t know how to get runs. I mean this game is amazing.”
“That’s why we love batting, we love batting and it’s so challenging when things don’t go your way and just find your rhythm again. To go out there, to be in a situation where you can always play is something that always brings out the best in me. And yeah, when Rohit’s out there, it’s quite easy to continue the batting rotation. We understand each other, it’s a really good partnership, a really good partnership. us.”
Kohli, one of the most celebrated foreign athletes in Australia – a country that has long seen him as both an icon and an antagonist – was finally able to enjoy some sweet moments. Over the years shameless tabloids and jeering fans have whipped up drama, but Kohli has always backed up his words with action. Saturday night, with a smile and an unbeatable tap, was the proof: a fond farewell from fans who can be stubborn but fair.
His next engagement in India comes in a month, a manageable break compared to the seven months he has had since the Champions Trophy. This is a schedule that suits players like Rohit and by extension Kohli: structured, measured and sustainable. For now, Kohli has shown that he cannot be written off. Buckle up; the ride is far from over.
Whether he will feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup remains uncertain – perhaps even for the players themselves. But for those cheering at the SCG on Saturday night, and the millions more watching at home, that question could wait. After all, Saturday belonged to the master of the chase—once again.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
October 26, 2025
