India win by nine wickets, with 11.3 overs to spare
That, in anyone’s language, is a belting. India’s spinners controlled the tempo of Australia’s innings, with Kuldeep joining Axar and Washington. All took wickets, all went for fewer than five an over in the process. That was after a good start from Siraj, then it was Harshit Rana who stamped his influence on the middle of the innings, knocking off Carey, Connolly, and Owen.
India took some time to get started, with Rohit careful against Starc and Hazlewood, but Gill was the only wicket to fall, out to the latter. Neither of Australia’s strike bowlers came back to finish their allotment later, which was odd, given how dominant the batting partnership was. It looked like the Australians were happy to put the cue in the rack when it came to looking after the Ashes bowlers.
Rohit and Kohli join for a TV interview after the game, which is unusual in itself, and speak about how much they’ve enjoyed playing in Sydney over the years, and their thanks for the crowd’s support. If they do make it to the World Cup in 2027, you wouldn’t rule out CA and the BCCI sneaking in another series here somehow, but it’s not on the schedule at this stage, so this is probably their Australian farewell. Unless they want to pack up the IPL and join Ashwin in the Big Bash? Who wouldn’t?
That’s it for today. There’s a T20 series to follow, but not Kohli or Rohit there, and some of Australia’s guns will miss that too. On we go. Farewell.
38.3 overs: India 237-1 (Sharma 121, Kohli 74) And that is that! India do it with a leg in the air, cruising past Australia’s total one wicket down, in a valedictory lap in Australia for these two. Consolation win, India lose the series, but they get this one tonight. A couple of singles from Ellis, then Kohli plays the uppercut! Sees the short ball coming at him, stands his ground, sways his body away, and gets bat up and under that ball to send it very fine for four. Great control, and that’s the game.
