Cricket Australia is preparing a special farewell for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, likely to be their last white-ball tour Down Under (three ODIs + five T20Is in October) .
Meanwhile, rookie Jacob Bethell has praised Kohli’s mentorship and “chase mantra” during the 2025 IPL final-winning campaign . Across formats, voices like Ollie Pope highlight Kohli’s “aura” at the slips . Here’s the full story.
1. Farewell Tour: A Touching Tribute from Down Under
- Context: Kohli and Rohit have retired from Test (May 2025) and T20 Internationals, and continue only in ODIs.
- Schedule: India plays three ODIs (Oct 19–25, Perth/Adelaide/Sydney) and five T20Is (Oct 29–Nov 8)
- CA’s Intent: CEO Todd Greenberg says, “This might be the last time we get to see Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma play in our country… we want to give them a great send-off” .
- Fanfare Forecast: Anticipated sell-out summer with record ticket sales—an emotional climax of an era .
2. The End of an Era: What’s Ending — and What Continues
- Test & T20 Curtains:
- Kohli retired from Tests on May 12, 2025, ending a 123-Test run with 9,230 runs .
- Rohit Sharma followed earlier in May, with a final series Down Under .
- ODI Takeover: Both legends shift full focus to ODIs, eyeing career closure at the 2027 World Cup. Their Australia tour could be the swan song in Aussie whites
3. “Unbelievable”: Bethell on Kohli’s IPL Influence
- Jacob Bethell, 21-year-old England all-rounder, starred for RCB in the IPL final.
- He described it as an “electrifying” experience to walk out and open alongside Kohli .
- Bethell focused on Kohli’s chase strategies, composure, and invaluable mentor chats—saying simply: “You get information… drip‑fed” .
- Result? Bethell’s blistering 82 in his first ODI outing reflected Kohli’s net lessons in big‑match temperament .
4. Kohli’s “Aura”: Across IPL, International, Slip Positions
- Beyond stats, voices like Bethell and Ollie Pope (England opener) raved about Kohli’s presence.
- Pope told India Today, “Kohli’s aura and chirping will be a big miss at slips”—emphasizing his impact as a slip fielder.
- That aura is more than hype—it’s inspiring a sky-high dressing-room environment and lifting teammates.
FAQs Cricket Fans Are Googling
- Will this really be their last Australia series?
Very likely—both have stepped away from Tests & T20Is, with looming ODI World Cup goals. CA is preparing a fitting send-off - What’s the exact schedule?
ODIs: Oct 19–25 (Perth, Adelaide, Sydney); T20Is: Oct 29–Nov 8 - What’s Bethell saying about Kohli?
He called the mentorship “unbelievable” and often picked up intangible learnings—composure, aura, chase wisdom - Why is Kohli’s fielding style a talking point?
As a slip fielder, his chirpy energy and alertness made matches. As Pope notes, “a big miss”. Team India too will feel that gap .
All Things Virat & Rohit
| Topic | Key Insights |
|---|---|
| Retirements | Kohli bowed out of Tests & T20Is; Rohit retired from Tests |
| Australia Tour | ODIs & T20s in Oct‑Nov 2025—a likely farewell series; CA planning special send-off |
| Bethell Praise | Called Kohli “electrifying”, learned chase tactics, benefited hugely in IPL |
| Aura at the Slips | Pope emphasized Kohli’s presence and slip-fielding energy—intangible yet powerful |
| Future Outlook | Series may mark end of era; rising stars like Shubman Gill expected to take over shepherding duties |
Lighthearted Spin: Memes & Banter
- Social media’s abuzz: “Kohli’s aura: IPL XP – unlock in Australia!”
- Aussie commentators joking about gift-wrapping farewell capes: “Last dance Down Under—give ‘em a hand, not just applause!”
Farewell Tour or Just Another Series?
Get your tissues ready, folks.
- It really looks like this could be the last time Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma don Aussie whites.
- CA’s planning—for the fans, the format, the homage—is as meticulous as their batting prep.
- Kohli’s aura and mentor quality have changed lives—Bethell’s career trajectory is proof.
- Whether they exit or reappear, one thing’s certain: cricket without their legacy, swagger, and slip-fielding chirps? Hard to imagine.
