Indian cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli etched their names deeper into ODI history during the third match against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, equalling a legendary record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Their unbeaten 168-run partnership for the second wicket powered India to a commanding nine-wicket victory while chasing 237, marking their 12th 150-plus stand in One Day Internationals. This achievement ties them with Tendulkar and Ganguly for the most such partnerships in the format’s history, cementing the ‘Ro-Ko’ duo’s status among India’s greatest batting pairs.

The partnership was a masterclass in composure and aggression. Rohit, captaining the side, remained unbeaten on 121 from 125 balls, laced with 13 fours and three sixes, while Kohli contributed a fluent 74 not out off 81 deliveries. Their stand followed a brisk 69-run opening partnership between Shubman Gill (24) and Rohit, ensuring India overreached the target with plenty to spare despite losing the three-match series 1-2. Rohit’s match-winning knock earned him Player of the Match honours, and his series tally of 202 runs—featuring a century and a fifty—secured him the Player of the Series award.

Beyond the 150-run milestone, Rohit and Kohli now boast 19 century partnerships in ODIs, achieved in just 101 innings together. This surpasses the 18 century stands Rohit shared with Shikhar Dhawan and places them third on the all-time list, behind Tendulkar-Ganguly (26 in 176 innings) and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan-Kumar Sangakkara (20 in 108 innings). The efficiency of the current pair underscores their dominance in the middle order over the past decade, having formed a formidable alliance since their first major partnership in 2013.

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Australia, opting to bat first, posted 236 all out in 46.4 overs, with Matt Renshaw top-scoring with 56. India’s bowlers, led by Harshit Rana’s 4-39, triggered a collapse after a steady start. Though the series ended in defeat, the Sydney spectacle offered fans a nostalgic glimpse of India’s batting might, possibly the final Rohit-Kohli partnership on Australian soil in bilateral ODIs. As both veterans approach the twilight of their careers, their record-equalling feat serves as a poignant reminder of their enduring impact on Indian cricket, inspiring the next generation while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the icons of the past.

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