NEW DELHI: The entire focus ahead of the India-Australia ODI series is on the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will be back in international action after a seven-month hiatus, having last featured for India in the Champions Trophy final in March this year.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh jokingly hoped that India's iconic duo, Kohli and Rohit, would not be at their best during the upcoming three-match ODI series beginning October 19.
1st ODI: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma return as Shubman Gill begins new era against Australia
"I had the privilege of playing against them quite a lot through the journey. They are obviously legends of the game. Virat, especially in this white-ball format, is the greatest chaser ever. I think you can see why the ticket sales are so high and why a lot of people are coming to watch them. And if it is their last time on Australian soil, I hope they enjoy it and I hope people can witness, not too much great cricket from them, but witness two of the greats playing in Australia," Marsh told the media.
Both players have also been training hard for this series. Rohit seemed to have shed a few kilos and moulded himself into a chiselled figure, and Kohli was sweating it out in London, his new base, with a private trainer.
Indian captain Shubman Gill described the opportunity to lead and learn from these cricketing legends as both an honour and a responsibility.
"The experience and skill set they bring to the team is massive. Both of them are among the best white-ball players in the world. Filling the shoes of legends like Mahi Bhai, Virat Bhai, and Rohit Bhai is a big responsibility, and I've had numerous conversations with them about how to take the team forward and the culture they envisioned for Indian cricket," he said.
He added, "when I was a kid, I idolised the way they played and the hunger they had. It's a big honour to lead such legends and learn from them. Even during the series, I'll have many opportunities to learn from their experience. Whenever I face a tough situation, I won't hesitate to seek their advice or suggestions."
