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Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma reunite as India embarks on White-Ball Tour to Australia under Shubman Gill’s leadership News24 –

Sports
By Correspondent


India tour of Australia: As Team India departed for their white-ball tour of Australia, there was a warm sense of nostalgia mixed with a quiet sense of transition. In a video shared by the BCCI, fans got a glimpse of old friendships rekindled and new leadership taking shape – a symbolic start to a new era in Indian cricket.

For the first time since the 2025 Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to the Indian squad – but now solely as ODI players, having officially retired from both Test and T20I formats. This marks a major shift in their roles within the team, and also within the broader Indian cricketing landscape.

Adding to the significance of this tour is Shubman Gill’s first assignment as full-time ODI captain, following Rohit’s decision to step down from leadership duties in the 50-over format. For the first time in over a decade, Rohit is traveling with the team not as a captain, but as a senior player — a role reversal that brought heartwarming moments during the team’s departure.

The video captured a special interaction between the new captain and his predecessor: Gill and Rohit shared a warm hug before boarding the team bus at the airport. Later, aboard the bus, Rohit playfully rolled an imaginary ball towards Kohli, a nod to the duo’s camaraderie over the years, followed by a heartfelt embrace between the two icons. Gill, meanwhile, was also seen sharing light-hearted moments with Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, reflecting the healthy rapport among the group.

Other players seen in the footage included Yashasvi Jaiswal, promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna, along with members of the support staff – all looking upbeat ahead of the tour.

India is set to play a three-match ODI series, beginning Sunday in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney. That will be followed by a five-match T20I series, with India’s T20 specialists expected to join the squad on October 22, ahead of the first game on October 29.

Eyes on Kohli and Rohit Amid Future Uncertainty

While the series itself promises to be a competitive affair, much of the surrounding buzz has been about Kohli and Rohit’s future in ODIs – especially with the 2027 World Cup still two and a half years away.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who recently oversaw India’s 2-0 Test series win over West Indies, struck a balanced tone when asked about the duo’s long-term prospects.

“The 50-over World Cup is still two and a half years away. It is very important to stay in the present,” Gambhir said in the post-series press conference. “Obviously they are quality players. They are coming back. Their experience is going to be valuable in Australia.”

While Gambhir remained non-committal about their place in the 2027 plans, he made it clear that the immediate focus was on ensuring a strong showing down under.

“Hopefully those two guys can have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team we can have a successful series.”

The Beginning of a New Chapter

For Indian cricket fans, this tour marks a poignant juncture – the coexistence of the past and the future. On one hand, Gill, at 26, has been entrusted with the responsibility of shaping India’s white-ball future. On the other, stalwarts like Rohit and Kohli are transitioning into roles as senior pros, no longer burdened by captaincy but still capable of winning games with bat in hand.

As the tour kicks off in Perth, the focus will naturally be on performances. But beyond the runs and wickets, it’s the evolving dynamics – the passing of the baton, the enduring friendships, and the subtle signs of change – that make this Indian team’s journey to Australia feel like the start of something both fresh and deeply familiar.




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