There’s something quietly cinematic about a great cricketer walking out to the middle one last time. When Rohit Sharma padded up in Mumbai this week – bat in hand, eyes focused, and his voice saying, “I am here again, it feels really good” – it wasn’t just a personal comeback.
It felt like the start of a final act, maybe even the curtain call.
As India’s ODI captain gears up for the upcoming series against Australia, beginning October 19, the buzz is unmistakable. The cricketing world, fans and pundits alike, are watching closely. This isn’t just another bilateral tour; it could be the swansong for two of India’s greatest modern-day icons – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
A Glimpse Into the Nets
Rohit’s return to the nets in Mumbai was more than just a fitness routine. The video he posted, featuring him batting crisply and running drills, set social media abuzz. At 38, most cricketers have long hung up their boots. But for Rohit, there’s still unfinished business in the 50-over format.
Having already called time on his T20I and Test careers earlier this year, the ODI arena remains his last bastion. Publicly, Rohit has expressed his desire to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. But behind closed doors, whispers suggest this Australian tour might mark the end of his journey in India colours.
If true, that gives every delivery he faces in October a little more weight. Every cover drive, every lofted pull shot, could be part of a final, nostalgic reel.
A Legacy Etched in White and Red
Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement in May was met with quiet reflection rather than fanfare. But make no mistake his numbers speak volumes. In 67 Tests from 2013 to 2025, he amassed 4,301 runs, including 12 centuries. His transformation into a solid opener from 2019 onwards was a revelation, and for a time, he was India’s leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship.
Still, it’s the ODI format where the ‘Hitman’ truly became immortal.
With 11,168 runs in 273 matches at an average of 48.76, and a strike rate nudging 93, Rohit Sharma stands in the pantheon of ODI greats. His 32 centuries, second only to Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar – include three double hundreds, a feat that continues to boggle the cricketing mind.
And when it comes to Australia, Rohit’s record only grows in stature: 1,328 runs in 30 ODIs at an average north of 53, with five centuries. He loves the bounce, the pace, the challenge and Australia has often brought out the best in him.
Not Just Rohit – A Historic Goodbye?
The emotional stakes are even higher with murmurs that Virat Kohli, too, might be on his final ODI tour. Having stepped away from T20Is and Tests alongside Rohit, Kohli’s role in this series takes on a potentially farewell-like tone.
If this really is the last time we see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli walk out together in Indian blues, it will be more than just the end of a cricketing era – it will be the closing of a golden chapter in Indian cricket.
These two have defined a generation: record-breakers, leaders, fierce competitors, and heroes to millions. The thought of their final bow together, on Australian soil – a land they’ve both conquered time and again carries with it the weight of legacy.
One Last Shot at Glory?
So what can we expect from Rohit in this upcoming series? Knowing his temperament, he’ll want to leave on his terms with runs, with pride, and with impact.
For fans, it’s a chance to savour every moment. Whether this is truly his last dance or just the beginning of a second wind in ODIs, Rohit Sharma’s presence is a reminder of cricket’s enduring poetry.
And if this is the end, it’s fitting that it comes not with a press conference, but with the sound of bat meeting ball in the quiet intensity of a Mumbai net session “I am here again. It feels really good.”