‘Indian batting was on fire’ – Fans remember iconic ODI series of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
As the world eagerly anticipates the day when the iconic duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma lifts the World Cup and bids farewell to their illustrious ODI careers, it’s worth reminiscing about a day from a decade ago when these two cricketing legends, along with another great, Shikhar Dhawan, orchestrated a remarkable run chase against their arch-rivals, Australia. This unforgettable match saw the trio making a mockery of a formidable target of 360 set by the Australians, leaving cricket fans awestruck.
The Australian team, known for its competitive spirit, left no stones unturned as they batted first. All of their top five batsmen managed to surpass the 50-run mark. The late Phil Hughes and the explosive Aaron Finch opened the innings with a formidable 74-run partnership, which was finally broken by the brilliance of Suresh Raina, who ran Finch out.
Shane Watson played an impactful innings, scoring 59 off 53 balls before being dismissed by the duo of Ravi Ashwin and MS Dhoni. George Bailey, who was leading the team at the time, partnered with Phil Hughes, and they continued to amass runs. Glenn Maxwell later joined the party with a blazing 32-ball 53, propelling Australia to a commanding total of 360 runs at the end of their allotted 50 overs.
Decoding a Decade Ago: When Kohli, Rohit, and Dhawan stunned Australia with a record-breaking run chase
What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary, catching even the mighty Australians off guard, let alone the fans. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, who had only recently started their journey as a formidable partnership, put up an astonishing 176-run opening stand. Shikhar Dhawan narrowly missed a splendid ODI century by a mere five runs before departing. Rohit Sharma then combined forces with Virat Kohli, and together they unleashed a relentless assault on the Australian bowling attack, sending the ball to the boundaries and over the ropes all around the ground.
Both Rohit and Virat reached their centuries in style, enthralling the spectators. Virat Kohli etched his name in history by scoring the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian at the time, taking only 52 balls to reach the milestone. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, who has since become renowned for his “daddy hundreds,” was named the Player of the Match for his brilliant 141 off 123 balls, a masterclass that included 17 boundaries and four towering sixes.
This remarkable match marked the beginning of a golden era for Indian cricket, with the unforgettable trio of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli dominating world cricket for the next five years. Their partnership not only redefined Indian cricket but also set new standards for batting excellence, thrilling fans and leaving opponents in awe. While we eagerly await the next chapter in their careers, let’s not forget the day when these three superstars united to create cricketing history with their unforgettable victory against the Australians.
Look at how the fans have reacted:
https://twitter.com/Cricjunction008/status/1713777322577330443
One of most memorable victories against Australia. pic.twitter.com/79MKODuj1o
— TEJASH 🚩 (@LoyleRohitFan) October 16, 2023
Can't forget this match, watching it from stands in Jaipur. Totally loved 🫶 pic.twitter.com/BCg5zR1YDr
— Avinash (@avieeee__) October 16, 2023
🔥 Celebrating a decade of brilliance! 🏏 On this day, Virat, Rohit, and Dhawan showcased their extraordinary talents, marking the start of an unforgettable era in cricket. 🙌🎉 #CricketLegends #ODIAnniversary
— United Indian (@TheUnitedIndia2) October 16, 2023
That's a memorable moment in Indian cricket history! The trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan has had a significant impact on Indian cricket over the years, and it's great to reflect on their achievements.
Cricket fans often cherish such remarkable performances…
— Renu 🍁 (@Talk2Rinki) October 16, 2023
Not the first time Rohit scored a daddy hundred vs Aus.
— User45 (@140of113) October 16, 2023
Hitman, Gabbar and the King will be remembered forever for this magnificient run chase. 😍
— Pattnaik Raghuveer (@rveer77) October 16, 2023