Sydney, Oct 25 (NationPress) After India's impressive nine-wicket victory over Australia in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground, veteran batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma offered heartfelt insights into their enduring partnership. They emphasized that their shared joy in playing cricket has allowed them to forge memorable collaborations.

On Saturday, Rohit showcased his remarkable strokeplay by smashing 13 fours and three sixes, scoring an impressive 121 not out off 125 balls – marking his 33rd century in ODIs. Kohli displayed his trademark calmness, contributing an unbeaten 74 off 81 deliveries, including seven boundaries, which elevated him to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs.

Together, they formed an unbroken 168-run partnership in a masterclass of chasing, leading India to a commanding series finale by successfully chasing down 237 runs with 11.3 overs remaining, thus avoiding a clean sweep defeat to Australia.

“It feels good to be out of the rut, honestly (after consecutive ducks). You can accumulate runs in international cricket, but the game always humbles you, even at this stage. Nearly 37, and I still feel like I don't know how to score runs. That's the beauty of this game; we love batting because of its challenges,” said Kohli.

“Finding your rhythm again is crucial, and having a situation to play in always brings out the best in me. When Rohit is batting, it’s easier to rotate the strike. We have a great understanding of each other's games. It’s fantastic to have another significant partnership,” Kohli remarked during the post-match discussion.

Rohit shared similar sentiments, stating, “I’ve always cherished playing here in Australia. I have fond memories from 2008, and it's a great way to conclude this tour. I don’t know if we’ll return to Australia, but I've enjoyed every moment of it, both good and bad.”

Kohli also reflected on the growth of their partnership over the years. “From the beginning, it was evident that we understood the game well. That's why we’ve been able to play together for so long: having an insight into the situation, our own games, and how to adapt accordingly. We’ve always taken pride in this understanding.”

“When we bat together, we recognize that we are among the most experienced players. Even in our early days, we believed that if we built a significant partnership, we could shift the game’s momentum. Communication and staying focused were key,” he added.

“Our journey began in 2013 against Australia at home when we started forming those big partnerships and aggressively taking the game to the opposition. It was clear that if we batted together for 20 overs, any total was chaseable. The game was never out of our favor. I've thoroughly enjoyed batting alongside Rohit, and it's great that we’ve achieved so much together.”

Rohit echoed this, stating, “We cherish our cricket above all. Regardless of the accolades we've earned, it's vital to approach every opportunity to play with a fresh mindset.”

“That’s what we aimed for when we arrived in Perth – to forget the last 15-17 years and start anew. That’s how I personally perceive every game I’ve played, and I believe Virat feels the same. I enjoyed these three matches immensely.”

In what might be their final ODI appearance in Australia, Kohli expressed gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support. “We want to extend our thanks. We’ve truly enjoyed playing in front of such immense crowds in this country.”

“We’ve played some of our finest cricket here as well. Thank you for welcoming us so graciously. The support here has always been phenomenal.” Rohit concluded with, “Thank you, Australia.”

–IANS

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