Finance
India vs Australia 3rd ODI Highlights: Rohit Sharma got his 33rd ODI century (121 not out), and Virat Kohli added 74 not out as India defeated Australia by 9 wickets in the third ODI in Sydney on Saturday. India completed the 237-run chase in 38.3 overs. Meanwhile, Australia, having won the first two matches, won the series 2-1. Earlier in the game, Harshit Rana returned India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s immense trust by providing amazing statistics of 4 for 39 as India knocked Australia out for 236. The hosts were on 183 for 3 at one point, but a disciplined and collective bowling performance allowed India mount an incredible recovery. Australia captain Mitchell Marsh had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Australia started brightly, but India responded with disciplined bowling, with Harshit Rana’s crucial spell of 4-39 helping the visitors knock out the hosts for 236. India’s reply was strong from the start, with Rohit and Shubman Gill adding 68 for the first wicket before Josh Hazlewood removed the latter.
That brought Rohit and Virat together, and India’s most experienced batting tandem demonstrated their immense potential. Rohit’s stroke play was brilliant, hitting 13 fours and three sixes in his 121 not out off 125 balls, while Kohli’s composure was consistent as he scored an unbeaten 74 from 81 deliveries, including seven boundaries.
Together, the duo stitched an undefeated 168-run combination in a superb chasing display, ensuring India won the series with a resounding victory by reaching home with 11.3 overs remaining and avoiding a clean sweep against Australia.
India’s chase began with Rohit clipping, driving, cutting, and lofting Mitchell Starc for boundaries. With the SCG surface giving less movement than in the first innings, Rohit demonstrated greater consistency than in the previous game in Adelaide, with his timing and placing standing out.
Gill joined the boundary-hitting party, glancing at Nathan Ellis for four, while Rohit lofted and pulled Josh Hazlewood for further boundaries.
Gill ended the power-play with a powerful slog-sweep off Cooper Connolly for six, as India signed off with 68/0 to shift momentum in their favour.
Gill, however, fell to a peach from Hazlewood—edge of a delivery pitched around the fourth-stump channel behind to Alex Carey. Kohli walked in to a standing ovation from the SCG crowd, likely due to this being his final appearance at the venue.
After bagging consecutive wickets, Kohli got off the mark on the first ball and acknowledged the moment with a smile and a subtle fist pump, as the rest of the crowd roared in delight. Afterwards, Kohli was at his best, cutting Adam Zampa for four, before pulling off Hazlewood and straight driving off Starc for further boundaries.
Rohit, meanwhile, lofted Zampa over long-off for six, before a single took him to his 60th ODI fifty in 63 balls. After that, he swept Zampa for four, slog-swept him for six, and heaved Nathan Ellis for another boundary.
On the other hand, Kohli survived an lbw appeal off Ellis on umpire’s call and went on to score his 75th ODI fifty, also surpassing Kumar Sangakkara to become the second highest run scorer of all time in ODI history, just behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
After the partnership reached 100 runs, Rohit accelerated with a booming drive and sweeping off spinners to reach his century in just 105 balls in front of a raucous Indian audience. Rohit then played a couple of great sweeps off Matt Short, scoring a six and two fours, before Kohli flipped and ramped Ellis for boundaries, ensuring India’s victory and sending the fans into a frenzy.
Brief Scores: Australia 236 in 43.4 overs (Matthew Renshaw 56, Mitchell Marsh 41; Harshit Rana 4-39, Washington Sundar 2-44) lost to India 237/1 in 38.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 121 not out, Virat Kohli 74 not out; Josh Hazlewood 1-23) by nine wickets
Source: IANS
