After months away from cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s return to ODIs stirred up a storm in the cricket fraternity. As soon as the BCCI announced the squad, naming both Rohit and Kohli as a part of the team travelling to Australia, ticket sales went through the roof. Their inclusion and its effect was proof of what star power can do to an inconsequential ODI series. In any other scenario, a format that is slowly diminishing – between the drama of Test cricket and the entertainment of T20s and franchise leagues – would not have attracted this much attention.
Throughout the series, the interest in the duo was at its peak. Fans wanted every detail. What did Rohit do in the nets? What would be his approach in the matches? Was Kohli still trying his hand at the fourth-fifth stump delivery, a weakness that had been exploited over and over? As concerns grew over their participation in the 2027 World Cup, fans were not ready to let them go – not just yet. The dream of watching the two lifting the ODI World Cup is still alive.
The first match of the series was a forgettable one for Ro-Ko. While Rohit returned to the pavilion after scoring just 8, Kohli walked back with a duck – the first of his career in Australia. Rohit then made a striking return to form in the second match, scoring 73 (97 balls). Meanwhile, Kohli registered back-to-back noughts as India eventually went on to lose the game and the series.
On the morning of the 3rd ODI, the Sydney Cricket Ground, as vibrant as ever, welcomed the two with hope of a firepower performance, and Ro-Ko delivered just that. Rohit 121* (125) and Kohli 74* (81), stitched together a partnership of 168 runs that brought back nostalgia for the early days.
In more ways than one, Rohit and Kohli’s comeback was more than just about scoring runs and breaking records. In fact, the reason why fans were so emotional about the innings played was because they were a reminder of why we watch sports in the first place. Their return was not the story of two players rediscovering form, but of millions finding comfort in familiar faces who’ve carried their dreams for over a decade. Watching them walk out together again, after months of uncertainty, felt like a reassurance that some things – like hope, faith, and redemption – never truly fade.