Though Australia had already sealed the series with wins in Perth and Adelaide, India’s bowlers hit back hard, bundling out the hosts for 236 before the veteran duo guided the visitors home in style with a majestic 168-run stand.
“I’ve always loved coming here,” said Rohit after the match. “It’s a nice way to finish — to get that knock and to get the win as well. I don’t know if we’ll be coming back to Australia, but it’s been fun playing here over the years — a mix of good and bad memories, but I’ll take all the cricket I’ve played here with pride.”
Kohli, the second-highest run-getter in ODI history behind Sachin Tendulkar, walked out to a thunderous reception at the Sydney Cricket Ground — which, for a night, felt more like New Delhi than New South Wales.
Rohit had already shared a brisk 69-run opening stand with captain Shubman Gill (24), but it was the reunion of the iconic “Ro-Ko” partnership that the sea of blue-clad fans waving tricolours had truly come to witness.
Both in their mid-thirties and now focusing solely on the 50-over format, Rohit and Kohli showcased vintage class — blending composure with crisp stroke play that steadily drained the fight from the Australian bowlers.
Rohit hammered 13 boundaries and three sixes on his way to his 33rd ODI hundred — his ninth against Australia — reaching the landmark with a calm push down the ground for a single. Kohli, having fallen for ducks in the previous two matches, brought up his 75th half-century to a deafening roar, before Rohit secured their 19th century partnership with another gentle single soon after.
“When we bat together, even back in the day, we’d always think that if we build a big partnership, we can take the game away from the opposition,” Kohli reflected. “And the opponents knew it too — if we’re together for 20 overs, any total is within reach.”
Rohit, who survived a life on 108 when Josh Hazlewood misjudged a towering catch, remained unbeaten on 121, while Kohli sealed the win with a delicate glide down to third man for four.
Earlier, Australia had chosen to bat — a decision that had produced victory in the previous nine ODIs at the SCG — but none of their top order could fully capitalise on decent starts. Matt Renshaw’s 56 stood out, offering fresh hope for his Test aspirations ahead of the Ashes.
All-rounder Harshit Rana starred with the ball, claiming 4 for 39 as he cleaned up the tail, dismissing Cooper Connolly and Hazlewood in the space of three deliveries. Kohli, ever-electric in the field, had earlier thrilled the crowd with sharp catches to remove Matthew Short (30) and later Connolly at long-off.
As the crowd roared one last time, Kohli summed up the emotions of a golden era nearing its end:
“We just want to say thank you. We’ve loved coming here, loved playing in front of these incredible crowds. Some of our best cricket has been played on these grounds — and it’s something we’ll always cherish.”
