New Delhi: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shared a heartwarming hug on their reunion as the Indian team departed for Australia on Wednesday, October 15. The senior duo were among the first batch of Indian players to leave for the ODI series against Australia which is set to get underway on Sunday, October 19.
The first batch of Indian players left for Australia on Wednesday ahead of the ODI series. Kohli and Rohit were joined by the likes of India’s new ODI skipper Shubman Gill, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel and Prasidh Krishna, among others.
The players boarded their flights from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi for Perth, where India will take on Australia in the first ODI on Sunday. In a video shared by the BCCI, the Indian players were seen catching up with each other before boarding the team bus for the airport. Rohit was spotted playfully bowing to greet Kohli upon spotting his India teammate already seated as he headed towards the bus.
The duo, who are longtime teammates and the senior-most members in the squad, later shared a heartwarming hug as Rohit boarded the bus. India’s newly appointed ODI skipper Gill was also seen sharing a hug with Rohit as he met the former skipper. Gill also exchanged pleasantries with Kohli after boarding the team bus.
Watch video:
𝙀𝙣 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝘿𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 ✈️
Of familiar faces and special reunions as #TeamIndia depart for the Australia challenge 😍#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ElV3OtV3Lj
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 15, 2025
The rest of India’s ODI squad, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, will depart for Australia on Wednesday evening. India will play three ODIs against Australia, followed by a five-match T20I series. The T20I squad is likely to depart for Australia on October 22, with the five-match rubber set to get underway on October 29.
Rohit, Kohli set for India comeback
Kohli and Rohit are set to make their India comeback in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. Both players last featured for the Men in Blue in their victorious Champions Trophy 2025 campaign earlier this year. The duo, who retired from T20Is last year and quit Test cricket earlier this year, are now only active in ODIs.
Amid questions over their future, the senior batters will be hoping to make a strong return in the ODI series against Australia. The duo will play under Gill for the first time in the series Down Under and will look to make things easier for the young captain by sharing their leadership experience with him.