Virat Kohli scored two ducks in the first two ODIs against Australia, but returned to form with a crisp 74 in the third ODI at SCG, aiding India in a consolation win. Despite the lack of runs in the first two games, the expectations were high from Virat Kohli to fire at SCG because of his tremendous record while chasing.
As soon as Virat Kohli walked out to bat in a chase of 237, there was a sense of assurance in his batting and he looked at far more ease at the crease than in his previous outings. The knock comes as a shot in the arm for Virat Kohli, who is looking to make the India squad for the ODI World Cup 2027.
Virat Kohli is also called the chase master, and his record while chasing justifies the tag. Virat Kohli has scored 8138 runs while chasing in 172 games at an average of 64.58, including 28 centuries and 42 fifties. Meanwhile, the 74-run knock by Virat Kohli helped him break a huge record previously held by Sachin Tendulkar. Virat Kohli became the first player in the world to score 70 fifty-plus scores while chasing in ODIs.
Most 50+ Scores While Chasing
| Batsman | 50+ Scores |
| Virat Kohli | 70 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 69 |
| Rohit Sharma | 55 |
| Jacques Kallis | 50 |
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli also became the second leading run scorer in ODI cricket, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara. He now has 14243 runs in 305 matches. Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most centuries in ODIs – 51, but still trails a fair way from the record of most runs in the format (18426).
Seeing his performance, Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin has lauded Virat Kohli for his hunger to play for India till the 2027 World Cup.
Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin is in all praise of Virat Kohli after the recently concluded 3 match series vs Australia
Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin has lauded Virat Kohli for his hunger to play for India till the 2027 World Cup. The 48-year-old backed the legendary batter for his twin ducks in the first two ODIs in Australia while pointing out that he hadn’t played any competitive cricket since IPL 2025.
Haddin also credited Virat Kohli for bouncing back strongly in the third ODI, scoring 74 runs off 81 balls to help India win the game by nine wickets. During his knock, the Delhi batter eclipsed Kumar Sangakkara for the second-most runs in ODIs. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicketkeeper said on Willow Talk Cricket Podcast:
“[Kohli] I think he’s still got the hunger to play till the World Cup, and you’ve got to remember he didn’t have any cricket from the IPL final. He went away, recharged, and as the tour went on, he was back to his old self in that last game.”
Haddin added that Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not retire in the immediate future:
“How good Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli? I don’t think, I think it’s the last time we’re going to see them here, but I don’t see them retiring anytime soon.”
Brad Haddin further commended Rohit Sharma for his 33rd ODI century against Australia in the third ODI. The former wicketkeeper-batter stressed that the 38-year-old has worked on his fitness to make sure he is fit to represent India till the 2027 World Cup. He said in the same video:
“But, yeah, the old boys to me like Rohit Sharma, the way he got that 100 and the way he’s presented, he’s not doing all that work to drop that weight not to be available for the 2027 World Cup.”
Notably, Rohit Sharma won the Player of the Match award for scoring 202 runs in three ODIs at an average of 101. The swashbuckling batter scored an unbeaten 121 in the third game to help take the Men in Blue over the line. During his knock, Rohit also shared an unbeaten 168-run partnership with Virat Kohli for the second wicket. It was his sixth ton in Australia, the most by a visiting batter in ODIs. Rohit and Kohli will next be seen in action during the three-match ODI series against South Africa, beginning in Ranchi on November 30.