NEW DELHI: Australia’s rising batting all-rounder Cooper Connolly is looking forward to facing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming home ODIs, describing the Indian duo as ‘world-class players’ with an undeniable ‘aura.’

India will play three ODIs and five T20Is starting next Sunday in Perth.

Kohli and Rohit, who have retired from Tests and T20Is respectively, are set to feature in the ODI series.

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“It’s exciting, they’re two world-class players. I’ve played them both before and there’s a bit of aura about them. You just think ‘these guys have played a lot of cricket’ and they have got that strut about them,” Connolly was quoted as saying by ‘The West Australia’.

“They own this game, pretty much. It’s exciting, there will be a lot of fans here to watch those two go about it pretty much and we’re excited to play some good cricket. They’re bringing over a pretty strong squad, but hopefully we can win the series.

“It would be an honor, I’ve obviously looked up to Virat, he’s a nice player. I haven’t had much communication with him, but it’d be an honor to share the field one last time with him.”

Connolly, 22, has been named in Australia’s 50-over squad. He recently featured for Australia A in two first-class matches in Lucknow and three unofficial ODIs in Kanpur during September-October.