Perth, Australia - Ahead of the first ODI between Australia and India, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh has heaped praise on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, acknowledging their legendary status in the game. Marsh particularly lauded Kohli's exceptional chasing abilities in white-ball cricket, calling him "the greatest chaser ever in this format".
The three-match ODI series marks the return of Kohli and Sharma to the Indian side for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand. The first ODI is scheduled to be held on October 19 at the Perth Stadium. The second will be held on October 23 at the Adelaide Oval, and the third on October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Marsh acknowledged the privilege of playing against Kohli and Sharma throughout his career. He recognized their immense contribution to cricket and highlighted their significant impact on drawing crowds to the stadiums. "I had the privilege of playing against them quite a lot through the journey. They are obviously legends of the game," Marsh stated.
Marsh also playfully expressed his hope that Kohli and Sharma wouldn't dominate the series with their performances. "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.
Travis Head, another Australian batter, also praised Kohli and Sharma, calling them two of the best white-ball players. Head noted that Kohli is probably the greatest white-ball player with Sharma not far behind.
The return of Kohli and Sharma has generated considerable excitement among fans, with high ticket sales reported for the ODI series. Marsh himself acknowledged that the high ticket sales are due to the excitement surrounding the opportunity to watch Kohli and Sharma play.
Both Kohli and Sharma have been in impressive form since India's last tour to Australia before the 2023 ODI World Cup. Sharma has scored 1,137 runs in 23 ODIs, averaging 49.43 with a strike rate of 123.45. In 46 ODIs against Australia, Sharma has smashed 2407 runs at an average of 57.30, including eight centuries and nine half-centuries. Kohli has also maintained a high standard of performance.
