THE LOST STAR

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong [December 10, 2022].

Virat Kohli is a superstar of the game. Whenever he scores a hundred, everything else gets overshadowed. However, there was one such game wherein Virat scored a century, and there was someone else who got all the attention. Who was he? He was Ishan Kishan.

In the third ODI against Bangladesh in Chittagong, Ishan Kishan scored a massive 210 off just 131 deliveries. Interestingly, it was his maiden ODI ton, which also became the quickest double ton in the history of ODI cricket. It was unfortunate that Ishan was dismissed in the 36th over, or else there would have been a possibility of seeing the first triple hundred in ODI cricket. Apart from Kishan, Kohli too scored a magnificent 113 as the Indian batsmen made a mess of the Bangladeshi bowling lineup. Kohli, who has not hit an ODI hundred since August 2019, found his mojo back as he hit his 44th ODI ton. It was an instance of classic ODI batsmanship by Kohli, but he his innings got eclipsed by the performance of our own pocket dynamo, Ishan Kishan. Ishan was truly possessed that day.

Despite the disappointment of Ishan Kishan not getting 300, everyone felt that we have got a new power hitter who would rule international cricket in the coming decades. The shots he played that day impressed everyone. Not only did he find gaps in the ground, but also he was not shy to hit the ball out of the park.

 2023 also saw Ishan make his Test debut, and he also made it to the 2023 World Cup squad. Everything looked perfect. However, his indiscipline and indifference with BCCI didn't go well with the board, as he was dropped from the team. Initially it appeared that it was just the England series from which he has been dropped, and he will be back in the next series. Unfortunately, since November 2023, he has been nowhere near the squad. Moreover, looking into the current situation, it appears impossible for a comeback in the Indian jersey. It will be quite sad if we don't see Ishan again in the Indian Cricket Team. After all, not only is he a talented cricketer, but he is also the one who eclipsed Kohli even when he scored a hundred. Something which has never happened before. 

To watch that monumental innings of Ishan Kishan, Click Here. 

To watch the innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here. 

THE REDEMPTION OF RO-KO

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney [October 25, 2025].

The last 15 months have been nothing short of a roller coaster for Indian cricket. After winning the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, Indian coach Rahul Dravid stepped down from his position, whereas Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja also bid farewell to the shortest format of the game. However, the troika decided to continue playing in the remaining two formats.

In July 2024, Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the new head coach of Team India. Credit for the same goes to KKR for their IPL title win in May 2024. Fireworks were expected; after all, there have been instances of ego clashes between Gambhir and fellow cricketers of the squad.

The first year had been truly a topsy-turvy ride. Indians lifted another ICC Trophy as they beat New Zealand in the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy, 2025. However, there were also moments of low as we suffered a first home test series defeat in 12 years. Moreover, it was not just a defeat; it was a drubbing, as we were whitewashed 3-0 by the Kiwis in our own backyard. Moreover, we also suffered a 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, which ended our hopes of playing in the WTC Finals at Lords.

However, the thing that shook the entire cricketing fraternity was the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket. Apart from them, even Pujara and Ashwin bid farewell to red-ball cricket. Hence, it can be said that Team India is moving into the transition stage now.

Interestingly, the young squad led by Shubhman Gill levelled a 5-match test series 2-2 in England and was also able to retain the Asia Cup Trophy. As a result, questions are being asked now about whether Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli will continue to play ODI Cricket or whether we have seen the end of them. Moreover, will the iconic Ro-Ko make it to the 2027 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa?

The debate got even more heated when Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain. There were rumors that the tour Down Under could be their last. To make matters worse, Rohit scored just 8 runs in the first ODI at Perth, whereas Kohli was caught on 0.

In the second ODI, Rohit scored a gritty 73, which did give hope to his fans. But it was not the style for which Rohit Sharma is known. It was evident that Rohit was fighting hard to maintain his position in the team. However, things didn't go as planned for Kohli, who was dismissed for another duck. It seemed that the duo were no longer their older versions who dominated bowlers for fun.

It was a do-or-die game for Rohit and Kohli in Sydney, and boy, the way they performed was truly unbelievable. Rohit Sharma scored a magnificent 121* off 125 deliveries as Indians chased down 237 in just 38.3 overs. Apart from Rohit, Kohli too scored an incredible 74*, as the Indians won the 3rd ODI by 9 wickets and were thus successful in avoiding a whitewash.

However, something that truly impressed everyone was the style with which the duo played. It was an instance of classic ODI batsmanship. Not only did they hit bad balls for boundaries, but they were also rotating strikes so easily, which never let the required run rate go up. It was vintage Ro-Ko Partnership. Something that we first saw in Jaipur in 2013.

Even though it was the Aussie who won the ODI Series 2-1, it's the Indians who are happier than the Kangaroos. After all, Kohli got his mojo back, whereas Rohit Sharma was awarded both player of the match and player of the series. Interestingly, SCG saw the end of Virat Kohli in Test Cricket, and it was SCG wherein Rohit Sharma decided to sit out of the Indian test squad. However, a year later SCG saw their rise. Moreover, the dream and hope of seeing Ro-Ko play in the 2027 World Cup is very much alive.

Lastly, it is SCG where we saw Virat and Rohit for one last time play on the Australian soil, as it is almost certain that we will not see them play again in Australia. It was truly a perfect farewell from Down Under.

To watch the Innings of Rohit Sharma, Click Here.

To watch the Innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here.