It is the finest of farewells, a goodbye to Australia resplendent for its brilliance, a crowning act of class from champions of their craft.
The King Virat Kohli was in his pomp and Rohit Sharma simply sublime as they bid farewell to Australia, at least as international cricketers, with an unbeaten stand of 168 while adding further lustre to their legacies at the SCG on a celebratory Saturday night.
In front of a crowd 40,580, Sharma scored a near run-a-ball 121 not out while Kohli knocked up a fine 74 as India coasted to a nine-wicket victory with more than 12 overs remaining. A dead rubber it may have been, but it is a match that will be long remembered in Australia.
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“A fitting farewell from the SCG for two champions,” Fox Cricket’s Kerry O’Keeffe said.
“It was set up for a Kohli-Sharma partnership – and they delivered in spades.”
A capacity crowd was in attendance to watch the final stand of Kohli in a country where he scored seven Test centuries, five ODI tons and nine 50s in 16 innings in the shortest form of the sport. But they got the best of double-acts from a fellow legend in Sharma as well.
Fittingly, their final innings in Australia came in a sea of blue, for Indian fans swelled the SCG to near bursting point as the tourists produced their best performance by far on this white ball tour after losses in Perth last Sunday and in Adelaide on Thursday.
That Kohli was there when Sharma secured his century enhanced the ceremony and celebrations at the famous ground for a magnificent partnership.
Not surprisingly, the pair were delighted when interviewed by Adam Gilchrist and Ravi Shastri after the match, having led an Australian team that showed their appreciation for the masterclasses with warm applause at the crease and afterwards.
So brilliant has Kohli been down under, Shastri rated him arguably the best non-Australian performer to play in the land girt by sea and similarly to his farewell from Test cricket at this ground in January, he was afforded due recognition when making his way to the crease.
“Kohli is obviously one of the best overseas players to have come to Australia. He’s got seven or eight hundreds in Australia, Test match hundreds, which is unbelievable,” Shastri told foxsports.com.au.
“Even the great Sachin Tendulkar didn’t get that many, (nor did) Brian Lara, so he’s right up there with the very best to have come to play in Australia.
“And just the way he’s … taken the attack to the opposition. He’s been in their face. He’s been competitive. There’s always a needle out there when he’s batting. Australians love that. They love someone who will stand up and compete and then perform. So there’s no question about the legacy he has left.”
As he stepped on to the ground, with his every moved filmed by the thousands of fans standing at the ground, he touched the grass and put his gloved hand back to his helmet, a plea for good fortune to fall upon him once more in a land he has thrived in.
After whipping Hazlewood off his pads to mid-on off his first ball to score his first run in the series after consecutive ducks in ODI cricket for the first time in his career, the Indian fans stood and applauded as though he had made another fabulous century at the ground.
India’s Virat Kohli walks onto the ground to bat. Picture: DAVID GRAY / AFPSource: AFP
This prompted a chuckle from the champion, who pumped his fist in mock delight, though no doubt he was thrilled to be off the mark. When he cut Adam Zampa for four in the next over as the sun settled fully over Sydney and artificial light took hold, the roar of approval was no less deafening as it reverberated around the famous ground. It was a fabulous start and the crowd wanted more. He duly delivered.
He top-edged Hazlewood for four soon after and burst into a smile. Talk about riding your luck. But there was no fortune involved as he split the field on either side soon after against an Aussie hero known for being miserly when it comes to conceding runs.
The straight drive for four off Mitchell Starc in the 14th over was a thing of beauty, the technique as sublime as the timing. With Sharma rattling along again in the opening role, the Indian veterans set about turning back the clock once last time in Australia.
Sharma endured a torturous final stint as Indian Test captain in Australia last summer. But after enduring a testing spell from Josh Hazlewood in Adelaide a couple of nights ago, he has thrived and farewelled Australia with two fine innings in the ODI format.
If Kohli was the star attraction, Sharma’s delivery as best supporting actor in a farewell proved a scene stealer, for he was sublime.
An initial thrust for a century was denied when his clipped a drive straight into Kohli when on 98, drawing smiles from both.
On reaching his century soon after, he offered an understated wave of his bat to the Indian pavilion and then embraced his batting partner, the pair of them breaking into broad grins. Sharma’s ninth ODI century against Australia equalled the record of Tendulkar.
Virat Kohli was pumped. Picture: DAVID GRAY / AFPSource: AFP
With Sharma starring, a century was never on offer for Kohli given Australia’s paltry tally of 236. But he managed the next best thing.
After narrowly surviving a DRS Review from the bowling of Nathan Ellis when on 36, he laughed with astonishment when the SCG big screen showed the ball would have dislodged the bails as Australian players looked on in disbelief. It was the nearest run thing.
But he remained relaxed and was enjoying the show. When he edged Cooper Connolly for a single to bring up a final half-century in Australia, he exchanged a fist bump with Sharma as fans in the stands held banners reading “Farewell Virat” and “Forever a legend”.
David Warner, who had embraced Kohli prior to the match when engaging in a lengthy chat, was bullish when batting but loved the proactive approach of a rival and friend who was so often the talisman for India in Australia, no matter the format.
“You always knew he was going to come in and take the game on,” Warner told Fox Sports Australia.
“From a one day perspective, he was always fast between wickets, looking to get off strike. His game was very busy, and it was about trying to shut that down. And you knew you were always going to get into a contest with him.
“But he always picked his contests. He knew what he could do and how his mannerisms would irk, and I use that word, irk the opposition, and then you lose track as a bowling unit of where to bowl to him. So he had that natural ability.
“But he also has the ability of presence. It’s Kohli, you know? There’s not too many guys in world cricket who can do that. Like a Kevin Pietersen, you almost end up playing the man rather than just what is in front of you, (instead of) bowling the ball in the right area. He had the ability to (put rivals of their game) and I still think he does that until he retires.”
India’s Virat Kohli. Picture: AP Photo/Rick RycroftSource: AP
When that occurs is the question. It is the last innings Kohli will play in Australia as an international cricketer, though it is indisputable BBL teams will be clamouring for his signature should he ever become available to play, similarly to Ravichandran Ashwin this summer.
The next ODI World Cup is almost two years away, which feels like a lifetime in sport, and particularly for a cricketer about to turn 37, but he showed on Saturday night that class is permanent, even if Father Time slows an athlete.
Warner has no doubt Kohli can get to a tournament to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia if his appetite for runs holds. And the same must ring true for Sharma as well given his form in Australia.
“I think that’s a good question for Virat. If you have still got the hunger and the desire to keep playing, and he wants to play in 2027, and his mindset is there, there’s no reason why he can’t,” Warner said.
“He’s one of the fittest guys in the game along with being a great father and a husband. So for me, I’ve got no doubts he can make that. It’s whether or not he still has that passion to get up for training and for doing all the stuff that you have to get there. And I would never doubt that at all with his mindset.”
Kohli takes sharp grab in farewell match | 00:43
Shastri holds a similar viewpoint about the former Indian captain and superstar, who took a brilliant catch to dismiss the dangerous Matt Short earlier in the afternoon to signal he was fully engaged in the outing and keen to deliver one last mark of greatness down under.
“I think in his case, it’s the passion, the hunger, the desire. You know, how much is there? When you (have) played over a decade and a half (and) you’ve achieved almost everything in the game, you know, what is there to look forward to?” he said.
“If that drive is there, he will stay fit, because there’s no question he’s still very fit. It’s about form. That is crucial. So I guess in his case, he’ll take it one series at a time and then see how he is mentally.
“He’ll have no problems physically, but it’s the mental part of it, that hunger and desire. If that is still there, and he’s enjoying it, I think he’ll carry on.”