Royal Challengers Bengaluru powered their way to 240/4 with half-centuries from Virat Kohli, Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar, before holding off a late fightback to beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in a high-scoring IPL clash on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma is 41 short of 20,000 international runs, will be fourth Indian to reach milestone
Virat Kohli hugged Rohit Sharma after an electrifying IPL 2025 clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be looking to improve their batting performance and end their two-match losing streak when they face Mumbai Indians. RCB's batting lineup needs to regain its form to secure a spot in the IPL playoffs.
The cricketing ecosystem has learned to survive the prolonged absence of Kohli and Rohit -- at least in two formats -- in this interim period.
Mumbai Indians aim to leverage their home advantage against Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a mixed start to their IPL campaign. Key batting performances and bowling partnerships will be crucial for both teams.
India's aggressive batting approach, which has brought a lot of success, is credit to former captain Rohit Sharma and ex-head coach Rahul Dravid, according to Ravichandran Ashwin.
De Villiers also recollected how Rohit took on fierce South African pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel during a Durban Test.
Virat Kohli moved up to No. 4 in the latest ICC rankings with a match-winning hundred against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi boosting his ascend.
The skipper was happy how the bowling unit despite Hardik Pandya's ankle injury pulled things back in the middle overs after a rollicking opening stand of 93 between Litton Das (66) and Tanzid Hasan (51).
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli among India players to train ahead of ODIs against Sri Lanka
Across 18 seasons, Virat Kohli now has 8,989 IPL runs. That is roughly 500 runs every single year, without a single dip in form lasting long enough to define a season. Other great batters have careers. Kohli has had a sustained campaign of excellence.
Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli's wife, was seen standing in the background hoping to catch Rohit's attention. She called out to him and gave him a hug, congratulating him on the win.
The 32-year-old Cummins would be watching the action unfold from the sidelines due to a back injury.
Stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma can extend their careers till the 2027 ODI World Cup if the two Indian superstars continue their age-defying batting efforts, feels New Zealand pace great Tim Southee.
'Kohli and Rohit do not fit in our plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.'
The series in Australia could well be Rohit's last in India Blues. But Kohli, given his high fitness standards, could play on until the 2027 World Cup.
Play domestic cricket to maintain fitness, Jagdale advises Kohli and Rohit
Venkatesh Iyer's explosive innings of 73 not out off 40 balls propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a formidable 222 for four against Punjab Kings in their IPL match. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal also made significant contributions.
Ajit Agarkar will continue as chairman of the senior selection committee after the BCCI decided to renew his contract for one more year, keeping an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Dunith Wellalage denied Kohli an easy time on the very pitch
Earlier this week, the duo arrived in Perth with the first batch of the team and practised relentlessly in the nets.
Rohit Sharma hit a century and Virat Kohli a bright 74 to drive India to a nine-wicket win in the third one-day international on Saturday
'A leader who led the side with grit, passion & determination. Thank you Captain @imVkohli,' the BCCI tweeted on Thursday,
'You guys need to understand, these guys are human beings. You give them the stick now, but at the end of their careers, you look back and how did they make you feel when they played? They made people feel happy.'
Rohit Sharma hit a magnificent 121, while Virat Kohli stroked 74 in India's emphatic nine-wicket victory against Australia in Sydney.
The India batsman took his wife Ritika out for a movie date on Thursday, with brother-in-law Kunal also giving them company.
'Someone like Virat Kohli, that's a once-in-a-generation sort of player.'
At this moment, the Indian think tank is doing a tough balancing act of building the team around a new set of players without completely cutting ties with the old guard.
Despite not playing in IPL 2026, MS Dhoni remains a central figure in fan conversations, highlighting his enduring legacy and connection with supporters.
A seemingly unstoppable force in the shortest format, the current India squad has an aura of invincibility around it unlike the one that ended the cricketing powerhouse's long wait for an ICC title in Barbados 19 months ago.
'I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep Trophy.'
Preparations are in full swing in Mussoorie for the wedding of Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav and his fiancee Vanshika, with the Savoy Hotel booked for the event and expected to host numerous VIP guests.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will need a lot of game time going forward now that they play only one format but a decision on how the two white ball legends will stay in rhythm will be decided once the South Africa ODI series is over, skipper Shubman Gill said on Saturday.
India will miss Virat Kohli more than Rohit Sharma in the marquee Test series against England and the duo's recent retirement from the format will "hurt" the transitioning team's chances in the rubber starting on Friday, reckons the legendary Geoffrey Boycott.
Rohit Sharma scored a fluent 70 off 46 balls, laced with 8 boundaries and 3 sixes, helping his side comfortably chase down a target of 144.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma feels facing an Indian side with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is nothing new.
The towering presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Indian ODI team can only help newly appointed captain Shubman Gill grow as a leader, said Axar Patel.
There are three aspects of the decision taken jointly by Agarkar and Gambhir with the blessings of someone very powerful in Indian cricket ecosystem. First, they are on same page that both Rohit and Virat Kohli aren't exactly in their scheme of things for the 2027 World Cup.
'They discuss with Gautam the ODI format, the matches that we have and our plans for South Africa.'
