Sydney, Oct 24 (UNI) All eyes in Sydney are on two men who carry not just the weight of expectation but the hopes of an entire cricketing nation: Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill.
As India prepares to face Australia in the third and final ODI of the 2025 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the spotlight shines brightest on these senior stalwarts, whose performances, or lack thereof, may well decide the course of the match and the final impressions of India’s tour down under.
Kohli, the indomitable former captain and masterful anchor, has yet to assert his authority in this series, while Gill, leading the side, has struggled to impose control at the top of the order. The burden on their shoulders is immense, and the question is simple yet compelling: can these two men rise to the occasion when their team needs them most?
Cricket, after all, is a game of skill, temperament, and mental resolve, but it is also a game of timing and confidence. India’s middle order – Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Axar Patel — has battled valiantly in the first two ODIs, crafting partnerships and offering resistance, yet without foundational contributions from Kohli and Gill, totals have fallen short, leaving Australia with straightforward chases and the psychological edge firmly in their favor.
For India to mount any meaningful challenge in Sydney, it is clear: Kohli must find his rhythm, timing, and authority, and Gill must lead by example at the top of the innings, setting the tone for those who follow.
Australia, in contrast, arrives brimming with confidence. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head provide early aggression, while Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw stabilise the innings in the middle overs. Cooper Connolly and Mitchell Owen offer finishing firepower, ensuring that momentum never stalls. The bowling attack, anchored by Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Bartlett, and Adam Zampa, has been precise and relentless, leaving India batsmen under pressure in both previous encounters.
Tactically, India could turn to Kuldeep Yadav to inject variety into the attack. The left-arm wrist-spinner’s ability to turn the ball both ways and exploit rough patches later in the innings could trouble Australia’s middle order, particularly alongside Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh with the new ball, and Washington Sundar’s control in the middle overs. Yet, even with such strategic ploys, the outcome largely depends on Kohli and Gill rediscovering form and authority.
Sydney Cricket Ground itself is a character in this drama. Early seam movement and uneven bounce challenge openers, while short square boundaries tempt aggression. Spinners gain influence later, and the historical trend favors the side batting first, with nine of the last ten ODIs at this ground won by the initial batting side. A score around 275 will likely be competitive, but India’s ability to reach it rests heavily on the leadership and performance of its senior batsmen.
For Australia, the path is clear: dominate and complete the series sweep. For India, it is far more nuanced: salvage pride, inspire confidence, and allow Kohli and Gill to lead decisively. As the players take the field, fans will witness a contest of skill, resilience, and human spirit. Between the first ball and the last, fortunes will shift, narratives will evolve, and Kohli and Gill will be the protagonists on a stage that demands greatness.
Predicted Playing XIs:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc/Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood/Nathan Ellis
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
