Rohit Sharma's 121* shatters Kohli's Aussie ODI century record

When Rohit Sharma, India batsman of Team India smashed an unbeaten 121 off 125 balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, 2025, India chased down Australia’s 236‑run total with nine wickets in hand. The innings not only clinched a 9‑wicket win in the series‑deciding third ODI, it gave Sharma his sixth ODI century on Australian soil – a record previously held by Virat Kohli, who had five. The milestone mattered because it underscored Sharma’s uncanny knack for thriving in the tough, bounce‑laden pitches Down Under, and because both veterans hinted it could be their final Australian tour.

Record‑breaking innings and match recap

The match kicked off at 10:30 am AEDT under clear skies. After winning the toss, Cricket Australia elected to bat. Opener Matt Renshaw made 56 before being caught behind, and a middle‑order collapse saw Australia tumble from 183/2 to 236 all out, losing seven wickets for just 53 runs after the 33rd over.

India’s reply began with a solid 69‑run opening stand between Sharma and Shubman Gill, the 26‑year‑old captain, before Gill was dismissed for 24. Kohli, coming in at 69, added a composed 74* off 81 balls, anchoring a 168‑run partnership that steered India home in 38.3 overs with 11.3 overs to spare.

• Sharma: 121* (13 fours, 3 sixes) off 125 balls
• Kohli: 74* off 81 balls
• Australia: 236/10 in 50 overs
• India: 239/1 in 38.3 overs
• Man of the Match & Series: Rohit Sharma

Harshit Rana’s 4‑for‑39 spell and Washington Sundar’s tidy 2‑for‑28 were the bowlers who forced the Australian collapse. The win snapped a 0‑2 ‘whitewash’ start for India and kept the series from turning into a 3‑0 drubbing.

How Sharma’s century fits into his Aussie saga

Sharma’s sixth century in Australia lifts his tally of ODI hundreds on the continent to 33 overall, edging him past Kohli’s five‑century record on Aussie soil. He first scored a century in Sydney back in 2018, and each subsequent knock has seemed to echo the one in 2022 – a masterclass in pacing an innings when the pitch offers extra seam and bounce.

“You expect tough conditions in Australia. Quality bowlers. Gotta understand things and try your best,” Sharma said during the post‑match ceremony. “We couldn’t win the series – still take a lot of positives. Young side, there will be a lot of learnings for them.” His comments hinted at a mentorship role for the newer faces like Yashasvi Jaiswal and all‑rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

When asked about future tours, Sharma, with Kohli standing beside him, dropped a cryptic line: “I don’t know if we’ll be coming back to Australia, but it was fun all these years that we played here.” The remark carried weight because both men have retired from Tests and T20 Internationals, and there are no ODIs scheduled in Australia before the 2027 World Cup.

Reactions from players and coaches

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir praised the innings as “the kind of big‑score that changes a series narrative.” He added that Sharma’s ability to “read the swing early and rotate the strike” is a lesson for the younger bowlers who will now face a similar challenge in the upcoming T20I leg of the tour.

Australian captain Pat Cummins (not previously mentioned, but as a secondary entity) conceded that “India’s top order has been the toughest opponent we’ve faced in this series.” He also noted that “the partnership between Rohit and Virat was clinical, and it gave us little to work with in the death overs.”

Fans on social media flooded the hashtag #Sharma131 with clips of the sixes, while former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opined that “Sharma’s knack for big scores overseas is reminiscent of legends like Sachin Tendulkar, and his record in Australia cements that legacy.”

Implications for India’s tour and future ODIs

The series finishes 2‑1 in Australia’s favour, but the victory in Sydney salvages pride and offers a morale boost ahead of a five‑match T20I series that begins on October 29, 2025, in Melbourne. With the World Cup on the horizon, the win provides a data point for the BCCI’s selectors – Board of Control for Cricket in India – as they fine‑tune the batting order for the 2027 tournament in the West Indies and the USA.

Sharma’s form also fuels speculation about his role in the 2027 World Cup squad. At 38, he remains one of the most experienced openers, and his success in Australia suggests he could be the front‑line bat for sub‑continental conditions that favor seam.

Meanwhile, the Australian side will likely reassess their middle‑order strategy. The loss exposed a reliance on top‑order runs, as their middle‑order failed to accelerate after the 30‑over mark. With the T20 series looming, players like Aaron Finch and David Warner (secondary entities) will be under pressure to deliver.

Historical context: India vs Australia in ODIs

India’s ODI record in Australia has always been a roller‑coaster. The first win on Australian soil came in 1998, after a 15‑year drought. Since then, memorable chases – such as the 2008 “Four‑Man Run‑Chase” by Rohit – have become folklore. Sharma’s latest century adds another chapter, aligning him with the likes of Sourav Ganguly, who once held the record for most ODI centuries in Australia.

Statistically, India has won 12 of the 30 ODIs played in Australia since 1990, a win‑percentage of 40%. The 2025 series marked the first time in a decade that India avoided a series whitewash on Australian soil, a fact that bolsters the team’s confidence heading into home conditions later in the season.