If not with the bat first, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two men in the spotlight in the ongoing three-match ODI series, did the magic in the field as India skittled Australia out for 236 after the hosts opted to bat first on a good wicket in Sydney. Australia began well with a 61-run opening partnership between skipper Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head and Matt Renshaw did his bit with a maiden half-century in ODIs, but the lack of partnerships and regular wickets cost the hosts and both Rohit and Kohli starred with multiple catches during the innings.
Rohit completed 100 catches in ODIs and became the sixth cricketer to complete the milestone for India in the outfield. Virat Kohli, who is at the top of the list, took his tally to 164 catches with a couple of grabs on Saturday. Kohli also went past Jacques Kallis in the overall international list for most catches in the outfield across formats, taking his 338th and 339th catches. Kohli is now in fourth spot on the list, led by Mahela Jayawardene, with 440 catches as a fielder across formats.
Kohli also surpassed Sir Ian Botham (36) on the list of overseas cricketers with the most catches in Australia in international cricket, taking his tally to 38. However, Australia's Allan Border holds the record for most catches by any overseas fielder in one country in international cricket, having grabbed 41 catches in England.
Most catches in ODIs for India (for a fielder)
164 - Virat Kohli (in 302 innings)
156 - Mohammad Azharuddin (in 332 innings)
140 - Sachin Tendulkar (in 456 innings)
124 - Rahul Dravid (in 265 innings)
102 - Suresh Raina (in 223 innings)
100 - Rohit Sharma (in 274 innings)
Most catches in international cricket (for a fielder)
440 - Mahela Jayawardene (SL/Asia), in 768 innings
364 - Ricky Ponting (AUS/ICC), in 717 innings
354 - Ross Taylor (NZ/Samoa), in 550 innings
339 - Virat Kohli (IND), in 662 innings
338 - Jacques Kallis (SA), in 664 innings
Most catches by an overseas cricketer in Australia (for a fielder)
38 - Virat Kohli (India), in 65 innings
36 - Ian Botham (England), in 57 innings
33 - Carl Hooper (West Indies), in 51 innings
32 - Vivian Richards (West Indies), in 83 innings
After captain Shubman Gill got out for 24, that Kohli celebration after scoring just one run told everything one needed to know about the situation he found himself in. Both have still got it and these are the little sparks which the veterans need to remind themselves and everyone what they are made of. That Adelaide knock did it for Rohit and that single did it for Kohli, who just loves run-chases as the duo finished the game in 38.3 overs.
