Rohit Sharma has pretty much confirmed that his epic knock in the third ODI in Sydney was the last time he played in Australia, in India colours at least. The former India captain on Sunday posted a photo of him standing with his back to the camera in front of the “Departures” sign, presumably at Sydney’s Kingford Smith airport.
“One last time, signing off from Sydney,” said Rohit along with the picture. The 38-year-old’s place in the Indian ODI team, along with that of his long time teammate and fellow veteran Virat Kohli, was questioned by many after he was included in the squad while being stripped of captaincy. The series against Australia was Rohit and Kohli’s first in international cricket in over seven months, having retired from ODIs and T20Is.
Rohit, however, had visibly lost a considerable amount of weight and even shed the aggressive style of batting he had adopted in recent years. He went on to be highest scorer for India in the second and third ODIs, accumalating 73 in 97 balls in Adelaide and a masterful 121 not out of off 125 balls in Sydney. While India lost the series 2-1, Rohit won the player of the series award. Rohit’s century came as part of an unbeaten 168-run stand off 170 balls with Kohli, who followed up his twin ducks in the first and second ODIs with 74 not out off 81 balls.
Rohit leaves an incredible ODI record at the SCG. He has played six matches at the iconic ground and scored 454 runs at an average of 90.80 with two centuries and as many half-centuries. “Fond memories of 2008 and a nice way to finish getting that knock and getting that win. I don’t know we’ll be coming back to Australia but it was fun all these years I have played here. A lot of good memories, bad memories but all in all, I will take the cricket that I played here,” Rohit had said after the innings while talking to the broadcasters.
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