Virat Kohli with a cheeky smile after scoring the first run of the ODI series; receives a permanent welcome in Sydney – watch the video | Cricket News
On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the crowd erupted in joy when Kohli clipped Josh Hazlewood to mid-wicket for a quick single in the 11th over. It wasn’t a boundary, not even a booming cover run – just a simple, elegant push and run. But the roar that followed spoke volumes about the anticipation that had built up over his previous three rounds in the series.As he finished the run, Kohli turned to his partner, raised his fist and flashed a cheeky smile – a mixture of relief and amusement. Click here to watch video of Virat Kohli’s cheeky celebrationThe Sydney crowd, filled with Indian fans waving the tricolor, rose to their feet for a standing reception, celebrating the moment as if it were a landmark century. After two ducks in Perth and Adelaide, this one innings seemed to be the spark everyone was waiting for.Cameras captured Kohli smiling as chants of “Kohli! Kohli!” filled the stands. For someone who has given Australia countless unforgettable innings over the years, this unique moment had its own quiet significance. It wasn’t a question of numbers, it was a question of the connection between a player and his stadium, between resilience and recognition.Earlier in the day, the Indian bowlers had done their job in style. Pacer Harshit Rana, in only his third ODI, led the charge with figures of 4 for 39 as Australia were bundled out for 236 in 46.4 overs. Washington Sundar chipped in with two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel made early breakthroughs.Chasing 237, India’s innings started cautiously before this single from Kohli lifted the energy inside the SCG. Whether it was a prelude to a big move or simply a symbolic moment, one thing was certain; Virat Kohli had brought life back to the Sydney crowd.
