Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli once again reminded fans of their class as they powered India to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Australia in the final ODI at Sydney on Saturday.
After a couple of quiet outings earlier in the series, Kohli bounced back with an unbeaten 74, while Rohit continued his purple patch with scores of 73 and 121* to seal the three-match series 2–1. The duo’s partnership not only silenced critics questioning their form but also made their last ODI appearance in Australia a memorable one.
With the T20I series against Australia beginning October 29, both Rohit and Kohli are expected to return home to prepare for India’s upcoming assignments against South Africa in November.
🗓️ India’s ODI Schedule Before the 2027 World Cup:
- Nov–Dec 2025: 3-match ODI series vs South Africa (Home)
- Jan 2026: 3-match ODI series vs New Zealand (Home)
- Jun 2026: 3-match ODI series vs Afghanistan (Home)
- Jul 2026: 3-match ODI series vs England (Away)
- Sept–Oct 2026: 3-match ODI series vs West Indies (Home)
- Oct–Nov 2026: 3-match ODI series vs New Zealand (Away)
- Dec 2026: 3-match ODI series vs Sri Lanka (Home)
That’s a total of 21 ODIs for India before the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October–November 2027.
Both Kohli and Rohit have confirmed their intent to feature in the 2027 edition, looking to add another World Cup crown to India’s storied cricket legacy.
🏆 India’s World Cup Legacy:
India have lifted the ODI World Cup trophy twice — first under Kapil Dev in 1983 and later under MS Dhoni in 2011. The 2023 final heartbreak against Australia still lingers, but the upcoming cycle offers Rohit and Kohli another shot at glory.
Australia remain the most successful nation with six titles, while the West Indies have claimed two.
