NEW DELHI: The emotional quotient will be at an all-time high on Saturday as fans gear up to witness Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma take the field for what could be their final appearance on Australian soil in the third ODI. Expect many moistened eyes as the two veterans, partners in countless battles, prepare to don the India blues one last time Down Under.

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While Rohit Sharma offered some comfort with a fighting 73 off 97 balls in a lost cause, Kohli’s back-to-back ducks—the first of his international career—have left his die-hard fans wondering. if this marks the beginning of the end for the modern-day great in ODIs.

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Rohit first toured Australia for the CB Series in 2007–08, while Kohli made an instant impression on his 2011–12 debut series with a Test century at Adelaide. With no ODI series scheduled in Australia over the next two years, it’s difficult to imagine the duo returning in India blues.

Whether Kohli continues to play beyond this series remains uncertain, but the final ODI at the iconic SCG promises to be more than just a dead rubber. Fans will be hoping to see those classic punchy cover drives, elegant on-drives, and the inside-out lofted shots over extra cover that have defined Kohli’s career.

The match also carries significance as the Gautam Gambhir-coached Indian team looks to avoid a 0-3 whitewash, which would be an unwelcome mark ahead of the ODI World Cup two years away. History is not on India’s side either; in the last five ODIs against Australia at the SCG, the Men in Blue have managed just one victory.

Skipper Shubman Gill and Kohli are both due for a big innings, and Gambhir will expect them to fire in the final game. After being outplayed in the first two matches, India will need to revisit their strategy, especially in shoring up the batting without compromising the bowling. Ignoring a genuine match-winner like Kuldeep Yadav has left India vulnerable, as Australian batters have found it easier to navigate a weakened spin attack.

The team has been keen on multi-skilled cricketers, but many are still bordering on being bits-and-pieces players. Nitish Kumar Reddy remains under-utilized at number eight, and his deliveries, in the early and mid-120s, have lacked the venom to consistently trouble international-standard batters. Harshit Rana’s drop in pace during his second and third spells highlights why he is not yet ready for sustained international cricket. Only years of experience and exposure can allow a bowler to maintain intensity across multiple spells. Prasidh Krishna’s inclusion is sorely needed.

From the first two games, the only consistent positive has been Axar Patel, who has impressed both with the bat and ball. If he continues performing at this level, India might not need to recall Ravindra Jadeja in 50-over cricket.

As for Australia, the hosts have already begun their two-year preparation for the next ODI World Cup. Players like Matthew Short, Mitchell Owen, and Cooper Connolly have shown admirable technique and cricketing intelligence in pressure situations. Matt Kuhnemann, who troubled India in the rain-affected opener, could pair with Adam Zampa, strengthening Australia’s spin attack. This setup will allow opener Travis Head a chance to play a signature innings that eluded him in the first two games.

Squads

India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Jos Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Matt Kuhnemann.

Match starts at 9 am IST.

(With PTI Inputs)