Emotional scenes as Virat Kohli bids farewell to Australia – for now, as cricket boss flags Big Bash dream

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have provided the perfect sign-off to cricket in Australia, leading India to a thumping nine-wicket ODI win at the SCG, but plans have been hatched for their return.

In what will almost certainly be the pair’s last match in Australia, Rohit hit an unbeaten 121 and Kohli remained 74 not out as India chased down the victory target of 237 on Saturday night.

The pair’s farewell 169-run partnership ensured the chase was completed with 11.3 overs to spare with India 1-237, denying Australia a historic clean sweep of the three-match series.

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It was also a fitting end to their time in the country, given only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more ODI runs against Australia than Rohit or Kohli.

“I think from very early on, it was pretty clear that we both understood the game pretty well,” Kohli said.

“That’s the only reason you can play for so long.

“When you have an understanding of the situation, your own game, and how to apply it in different situations … that’s something that we’ve always taken a lot of pride in.

“We’ve loved coming to this country and playing in front of big crowds. We’ve played some of our best cricket here.”

But if Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg gets his way, Kohli could be back before he retires.

Greenberg said it is “realistic” to think the Indian great could one day follow Sydney Thunder’s star summer recruit Ravichandran Ashwin into the Big Bash League.

Cricket Australia is weighing up whether to allow private investment into the league and its teams, potentially bringing more money to the competition.

As it stands Indian players must be retired from international and domestic cricket to feature in overseas leagues, while also walking away from the lucrative IPL.

Whether that would change if Indian franchises continue to buy out teams in other countries remains to be seen, after investment in South Africa, England, the UAE and Caribbean.

Asked if it was realistic to think that Kohli could one day return to Australia in a franchise league, Greenberg said it was.

“In the short to medium term, I think it is realistic over time. We’re going to keep the dialogue open,” he said.

“Ravichandran Ashwin coming is a really important moment for the BBL and it will highlight the strength I think of bringing Indian players into the league.

“What that manifests over time I think is to be seen. Some of that will depend on whether we take private capital into the BBL which is an open conversation for us.”

Bringing Kohli to the BBL would likely come with a significant price tag, with the Indian star one of the most marketable men in world sport.

Veterans Rohit Sharma and Viral Kohli have guided India to a crushing win over Australia. Credit: AAP

CA will ideally make a decision on privatisation this summer, with Greenberg having made no secret of his desire to make the BBL the second biggest league behind the IPL.

“There is one thing the best leagues have all over the world in every sport. They have access to the best players and the BBL should be no different to that,” he said.

“We should have aspirations to make sure the very best players, both here in Australia and globally, can play in the BBL.

“That costs money because players have leverage and opportunity to play all over the world. So unashamedly we want to bring the very best players here.

“That’s one of the primary drivers why we would consider bringing private capital into the BBL so that we can compete on the global stage.”

Kohli’s day out at the SCG

Rohit’s century marked his ninth against Australia in ODI cricket, averaging close to 60 against them.

But in reality Saturday night was always going to be about Kohli at a sold-out SCG.

The heavily pro-India crowd were chanting his name as Shubman Gill and Rohit started fast, and cheered when Gill was caught behind for 24 with India 1-69.

That roar was only eclipsed when Kohli scored a run off his first ball and pumped the air, breaking a run of back-to-back ducks in India’s losses in Perth and Adelaide.

There were signs of Kohli’s best early when he cut Adam Zampa for four, before a lovely straight drive off Mitchell Starc that went to the boundary.

Kohli survived an lbw review on 35 on umpire’s call on height, and brought up his half-century off 56 balls.

“It’s good to be out of the pond,” Kohli said, in reference to his two ducks.

“You’ve scored so many runs in international cricket, but then the game shows you everything.

“Even at this stage, 37 and not many days old and still can feel like I don’t know how to get a run. I mean, this game is amazing.”

At the other end, Rohit was flying.

The opener took to Adam Zampa, sweeping him over the rope twice and producing another six when he lifted the legspinner over long-off.

He hit Starc to the boundary four times in the left-armer’s first three overs, and drove Nathan Ellis over mid-off for another four.

Horribly out of form on last year’s Test tour, Rohit brought up his century from 105 balls when he pushed Zampa down the ground.

And as the game felt as if it was becoming something of a Kohli testimonial, India’s megastar had the final say when he uppercut Ellis for four to finish off the chase.

“I think everyone got what they wanted tonight,” Australia batter Matt Renshaw quipped.

“It was amazing to see them and the way they went about things tonight. It could have been a tricky chase, but they just took the game out of our control.’‘

Renshaw had earlier top-scored for Australia with 56, but the hosts failed to make use of a solid base of 3-183 before being bowled out for 236 in the 47th over.

“It was frustrating,” Renshaw said.

“It felt like every time we built a partnership we lost a wicket. And you can’t do that against a quality side like India.’‘

Australian staff also brushed aside any concerns over Josh Hazlewood’s finger, after he left the field late bleeding after a spilled catch.