Rana, Rohit and Kohli help India avoid a clean sweep against Australia.

Rana, Rohit and Kohli help India avoid a clean sweep against Australia.

Rohit’s century, Kohli’s milestone, and Rana’s four-for power India to a commanding win at SCG.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had a memorable evening at the SCG, helping India avoid a 3-0 series defeat against Australia. Rohit scored his 50th international century, while Kohli overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history. The pair added their first century partnership in any format since January 2020, guiding India to a comfortable nine-wicket win.

Before their batting heroics, Harshit Rana led the way with the ball, taking four wickets and helping India bowl out Australia for just 237. Matthew Renshaw scored his first ODI fifty, but the rest of the Australian batters struggled. Captain Mitchell Marsh chose to bat first for only the second time in his ODI captaincy career. He and Travis Head started well, but Siraj dismissed Head after he reached 3000 ODI runs. Marsh was bowled by Axar Patel for 41 just after the drinks break.

Renshaw and Matthew Short tried to rebuild, but tight bowling from Washington Sundar and Axar Patel slowed things down. Short fell trying to sweep, caught by Kohli. Carey joined Renshaw, but the scoring stayed slow. Carey was eventually dismissed thanks to a brilliant diving catch by Shreyas Iyer, who injured himself in the process and was taken to hospital. Renshaw reached his fifty but was trapped lbw by Sundar soon after. Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav cleaned up the lower order, and Australia were all out in the 47th over.

India started the chase strongly with Rohit and Shubman Gill. They reached 68/0 in the PowerPlay before Gill edged one to the keeper off Hazlewood. Kohli walked in to a loud cheer and jokingly celebrated his first run to avoid a third straight duck. He settled in and batted through the innings. Rohit reached his 60th ODI fifty and later his 33rd century. Kohli also got to his 75th ODI fifty and passed Sangakkara’s run tally.

Together, they built a 100-run stand and finished the chase in the 39th over. Rohit hit a six and a four off Short, and Kohli sealed the win with a ramp shot off Ellis. It was a dominant performance that gave India a strong finish to the series.