IND vs AUS: Rohit Nearing World Record & 2 Milestones; Kohli Closing in on Personal Landmark

India and Australia face off in the first of three ODIs on October 19. India make a return to the ODI scene for the first time since the Champions Trophy final vs New Zealand on March 9. This time they are under a new skipper and that’s Shubman Gill. This is also Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s international comeback as they play only the ODI format.

Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Retiring?

In the midst of retirement rumours of Rohit and Kohli, the question remains if they will be around to play the 2027 ODI World Cup. While that is a long way away, at the moment both the players are closing in on individual glory. If it happens Down Under it will be truly special and if India win the series, it will be an added bonus.

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Rohit Sharma on the Cusp of History

Rohit is closing in on the world record of most ODI sixes. If he hits eight more, he shall surpass Shahid Afridi. Afridi currently has 351 while Rohit is in second place with 344. Also, the moment the toss for the first ODI takes place, Rohit shall become the 11th player to play 500 international games. He will also be the fourth Indian after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid to achieve it. Other than that, one more century will make Rohit join the list of players to have hit at least 50 international hundreds. All these accomplishments can easily happen on Australian soil.

Virat Kohli Has a Chance to Climb the Ladder

Kohli meanwhile is closing in on a personal milestone that shall make him jump the ladder on the list of top ODI run-scorers. If Kohli scores 54 runs, he will surpass Kumar Sangakkara and jump to second spot on the all-time list. He shall be second only to Sachin who is way ahead and too far off for even Kohli to catch up. Nonetheless, he will be the second highest in the world which is a big deal.

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI Legacy

At 38, Rohit is in the twilight of his career having been around since 2007. Nearing 37, Kohli has played for 17 years. So to be around for the 2027 ODI World Cup will mean battling time, form and fitness. At the time of the tournament Rohit will be 40 while Kohli shall turn 39 while it is ongoing.

The day will come when they bring down the curtain. Fans will hope it’s later rather than sooner. When it does, cricket will struggle to fill the void. But until then, fans should just sit back and enjoy their batting while they can. Because watching ‘Hitman’ and ‘King’ take on the bowlers is a sight to behold.