Will this be Rohit and Kohli’s final ODI series?

The buzz around Indian cricket has hit fever pitch once again as Team India landed in Perth on Thursday for the much-awaited three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning October 19. The arrival of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma marking their first international appearance since India’s Champions Trophy triumph in March has set the stage for a blockbuster series that fans have been eagerly waiting for.

Captain Shubman Gill, along with Kohli, Rohit, K L Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, arrived early on Thursday morning after a delayed flight from India. They were joined later in the day by head coach Gautam Gambhir, spinner Kuldeep Yadav, all-rounder Axar Patel, and bowling coach Morne Morkel, who travelled separately on an evening flight from Delhi.

The three ODIs will be played in Perth (October 19), Adelaide (October 23), and Sydney (October 25), followed by a five-match T20I series starting October 29. The tour is being viewed as a key phase in India’s transition under Gill’s leadership balancing the experience of seasoned campaigners with the energy of a young core.

Much of the attention, however, remains on the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both icons, who have already announced their retirements from Tests and T20 Internationals, are believed to be keen on continuing in ODIs at least until the 2027 World Cup. Their presence in the squad has reignited conversations about continuity, legacy, and the balance between experience and youth in Indian cricket’s next phase.

Australian captain Pat Cummins, who is sidelined due to a back injury, opined that the upcoming ODIs could be the last chance for Australian fans to witness Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play on Australian soil.

Gill, who has impressed as captain across formats, has been vocal about the value of experience that veterans bring to the dressing room. “The experience that both of them have and the matches that they have won for India, there are very few players with such skills and qualities. Players like them are rare in world cricket,” Gill had said during India’s recent Test series win over the West Indies.

As the team begins practice sessions in Perth, the excitement is palpable. With the Australian summer just beginning and both teams coming off strong campaigns, the India-Australia rivalry is expected to deliver yet another enthralling chapter one that could define the direction of India’s ODI future.