‘Wanted a Fresh Start’ – Rohit Sharma Reflects on Sydney Batting Masterclass

In the 3rd ODI against Australia, Rohit Sharma showcased his vintage batting command at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). His innings of 121 runs allowed India to chase the target quite easily. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were at their absolute best in the 3rd ODI against Australia. Their partnership gave India a solid base, making the chase of 236 runs quite comfortable in the second innings.

After the match, Rohit Sharma expressed his fondness for playing in Australia. He said that visiting Australia is something he always enjoys.

"I've always loved coming here. I enjoy playing cricket here in Australia. Fond memories of 2008, and nice way to finish, getting that knock and getting that win as well. I don't know if we'll be coming back to Australia, but it was fun all these years that we played here. A lot of good memories, bad memories, but all in all, I'll take the cricket that I played here," said Rohit Sharma after the match.

He then described that playing every game with a fresh mindset allows him to perform consistently. He is not one of those players who dwell on past performances. Instead, he likes to look into things with a fresh mind, as previous performances do not hinder his focus.

"We enjoy our cricket, most importantly, no matter what. Accolades we've achieved, but it's important that whenever you get an opportunity to play, you've got to come and start fresh, and that's what we did. When we arrived in Perth, I forget what had happened in the last 15-17 years, and I wanted to start fresh, and that's how I personally look at all the games that I've played. I'm sure it'll be the same for Virat as well, but enjoyed playing these three games," said Rohit Sharma.

In the 3rd ODI, Virat Kohli also found his lost form. He played a remarkable knock of 74 runs that showcased his vintage style of chasing in the second innings. After the match, he also expressed his pleasure about the innings that helped him regain his form after two consecutive ducks.

"Good to be out of the pond, honestly. You've scored so many runs in international cricket, but then the game shows you everything. Even at this stage, 37 and not many days old, and still can feel like I don't know how to get a run. I mean, this game is amazing,” said Virat Kohli.

He further said that challenging situations always bring the best out of him. He is a kind of player who likes to play under tough situations, as it provides him with more opportunities to score.

"That's why we love batting, we love batsmanship, and it's so challenging when it's not going your way and just to find your rhythm again. Go out there, having a situation to play in always is something that always brings out the best in me. And yeah, when Rohit's already batting there, it's pretty easy to kind of keep rotating strike. We understand each other's game pretty well. So again, really good to have a big partnership and another match-finishing partnership for us." said Virat Kohli.

He then said that the 2013 series against Australia was the turning point for him and Rohit Sharma. It was the series in which both of them showcased their chasing masterclass against Australia. After that, it became clear to them that their partnership was vital for India, and then the rest is history.

"I think it all started from that 2013 series against Australia at home, when we really started getting those big partnerships together and really taking the game on. From then on, it was pretty clear the opposition also knew if these guys are in for 20 overs together, any total is chaseable, and the game's never done in the opposition's favour. I've really enjoyed batting with Rohit, and, yeah, good to know we've scored a few together," said Virat Kohli.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will now come back to India, as their assignment with the ODI series has come to an end. The men in blue will now face Australia in the T20I series that is slated to start from October 29. It would be a great contest to watch, as Australia will look to extend its dominance over India, which is currently in a transition phase in T20Is.