Gautam Gambhir Hails Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli After Memorable Sydney Chase

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir delivered a heartfelt message in the dressing room following India's superb win in the third ODI against Australia, singling out Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli for their crucial roles in the successful chase.

Dressing Room Praise for Opening Stand

Gambhir began by highlighting the importance of the opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. “With the bat, I thought the partnership between Shubman and Rohit was very, very important when it was 60 for no loss,” Gambhir said, applauding how the stand of 69 set a solid foundation for India's pursuit of 237. The coach underscored that such starts take pressure off the rest of the batting order and allow the team to control the narrative of the chase.

Special Mention for the Ro-Ko Stand

After Gill departed, Gambhir shifted his focus to the iconic duo, praising the unbeaten 168-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as “outstanding.” He gave a special shoutout for Rohit securing another century and commended both senior batters for not just constructing the chase but also finishing the job themselves without leaving anything to chance. “The most important thing was that you finished it off, and Virat as well,” Gambhir stressed, emphasizing the value of clinical execution in big matches.

Big Picture: Experience and Expectations

Gambhir’s praise carried a dual message—while lauding the performances, he also clearly set the standard for what’s expected from India’s senior players. He remarked on how the win showcased India's ability to be “very good” and “clinical” in run chases, reinforcing that measured, composed partnerships at the top are the blueprint for many more victories. His words affirmed trust in the veterans while reminding the entire squad that similar levels of composure and reliability are demanded in the road ahead.

A Farewell Chapter?

The win also fueled retirement speculation, with both Rohit and Kohli approaching the twilight of their ODI careers. However, the Sydney chase showed that the old guard, when on song, remains invaluable in high-stakes international cricket. With South Africa as the next major assignment, Gambhir’s praise and clear standards set the tone for India to blend experience with emerging talent, all while riding on the proven shoulders of Rohit, Kohli, and Gill.