Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to make their much-anticipated return to international cricket. The two experienced campaigners will feature in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting on Sunday, October 19, in Perth.

Both players joined the rest of the Indian squad in New Delhi ahead of the tour. Virat Kohli arrived in the national capital on Tuesday morning, while Rohit Sharma touched down later in the evening. Their presence adds significant experience and stability to India’s lineup as they prepare for the challenging series in Australia.

The duo is expected to travel with the team to Australia on Wednesday. Fans and cricket experts alike are eagerly awaiting their performances, as both Rohit and Kohli have the ability to turn matches with their form and leadership on the field.

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Rohit Sharma Handles an Awkward Situation Calmly:

Before arriving in Delhi, Rohit Sharma was seen at Mumbai airport in a relaxed, casual outfit. The 38-year-old former India captain attracted a large crowd at the check-in counter, with numerous fans eager to click selfies with him.

Fans eagerly surrounded Rohit Sharma, hoping to get close to him, but he remained calm and composed. The former India captain patiently interacted with his supporters, taking selfies and ensuring everyone had a memorable moment with him.

Rohit Sharma clicks pictures with fans at Mumbai airport before leaving for Delhi.❤️ pic.twitter.com/s02ec6U9Bx

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 14, 2025

Rohit Sharma’s recent appearance highlighted his remarkable physical transformation, showing how much weight he has shed in preparation for India’s tour of Australia. The 38-year-old is determined to be in top shape and perform strongly, especially after the ODI captaincy was handed over to Shubman Gill, giving him added motivation to prove himself on the field.

Rohit opted for a casual look, sporting a blue T-shirt paired with blue jeans. He appeared cheerful and cooperative, posing for the paparazzi and flashing smiles while maintaining his composed demeanor. His fitness and positive attitude were clearly evident to fans and media alike.

Focus Shifts to Rohit Sharma’s Form:

Rohit Sharma’s upcoming series against Australia will be his first international assignment since the 2025 Champions Trophy. He last featured in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, who were eliminated by Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

In the past two months, Rohit Sharma has trained rigorously with his close friend and former India assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar. After the unexpected early removal of his ODI captaincy, attention now focuses on how Rohit will respond and perform with the bat in the upcoming series.

Rohit Sharma has expressed his ambition to represent India in the 2027 ODI World Cup. To keep that dream alive, he will need to deliver strong performances in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, followed by the three ODIs against South Africa, proving his form and fitness at the international level.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s arrival in Delhi was notably brisk. The former India captain didn’t stop for photographers, quickly heading to his car and leaving the airport. He appeared focused and in a hurry, making his way home to Gurugram, seemingly prioritizing rest and preparation ahead of the upcoming series.

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was recently seen spending time with model Mahieka Sharma ahead of India’s upcoming ODI series against Australia. Their meeting quickly caught fans’ attention on social media, sparking curiosity about the nature of their bond.

The 31-year-old cricketer appeared relaxed and cheerful during the outing, enjoying a short break before returning to national duties. Pandya, known for his stylish persona off the field, has often made headlines for his appearances beyond cricket.

India are set to face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting October 19. The series marks Pandya’s return to international action as the Men in Blue look to build momentum ahead of a packed cricketing calendar.

See Also: [WATCH] Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates 7th Test century during IND vs WI Delhi Test

Hardik Pandya in Spotlight Alongside his Rumored Girlfriend:

Hardik Pandya and model Mahieka Sharma were spotted together at the Mumbai airport on Friday, October 10. The two arrived in the same car and were seen walking inside the terminal, with Hardik allowing Mahieka to lead the way.

Both opted for matching black outfits — Hardik in a black jacket, sunglasses, pants, and white sneakers, while Mahieka donned a similar look with a black jacket, pants, and shades. The cricketer kept a low profile, avoiding interaction with the paparazzi as the pair swiftly made their way inside the airport.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mahieka Sharma is a well-known model who has graced the runway for top designers like Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, and Tarun Tahiliani. Before pursuing a career in modelling and acting, she completed her degree in Economics and Finance.

Hardik Pandya recently played a key role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 victory. The all-rounder took four wickets across six matches and contributed a vital 38-run innings in one of the games, showcasing his value to the team in pressure situations.

Hardik Pandya Ruled Out of Australia Series With Injury:

India faced a major setback when Hardik Pandya suffered a left quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup 2025, forcing him to miss the final against Pakistan. Due to the injury, the all-rounder has been excluded from both the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of Australia later this month.

After the three ODIs, India are scheduled to play five T20Is against Australia. However, Hardik Pandya will remain unavailable as he continues to recover from his injury. The 31-year-old all-rounder has been advised a four-week rest period before resuming training.

Throughout his international career, Hardik has featured in 94 ODIs and 120 T20Is. In the 50-over format, he has amassed 1904 runs and taken 91 wickets, while in T20Is, he has scored 1860 runs and claimed 98 wickets, showcasing his immense value as one of India’s leading all-rounders across formats.

Missing their premier fast-bowling all-rounder for a crucial series in Australia could disrupt India’s team balance. Hardik Pandya’s presence usually provides flexibility, allowing the side to field an additional batter and strengthen their batting depth, which has often been a key advantage for India in limited-overs formats.

Again, a heart-touching gesture from Rohit Sharma. Ahead of this flight with his family, Rohit did not forget to hug his driver. That moment was captured in the lens and went viral on social media platforms. The moment showed how Rohit liked to maintain a healthy relationship with his driver too. 

The ODI skipper of Team India, Rohit Sharma, was recently spotted in the Mumbai Airport with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh; daughter, Samaira; and son, Ahaan. They came to the airport in a luxurious, boxy-shaped, shiny black car. Rohit was in his natural casual attire and charming body language, exchanging some words before leaving Mumbai. The 38-year-old was in a loose-fitting blue T-shirt, dark denim jeans, and white sneakers, completing his casual look with a pair of shades. And his wife, Ritika, was seen carrying their newborn son, Ahaan. They had some luggage as well. 

As per media reports, the incident was captured on Friday morning (today, June 20). From today, India will be facing England in Leeds for the first game of the 5-match Test series. Rohit is not part of the team, as he announced his retirement after bidding adieu to the T20I format. The opener opted to walk out of the T20 International format just after winning the ICC T20I World Cup as the skipper of team India. His Test retirement also came without any further indication. 

Watch the heartfelt moment here

Rohit Sharma never forgets to hug and say goodbye to his driver and team members.❤️

The most humble and down-to-earth man @ImRo45 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DEPo7kg3U7

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) June 20, 2025

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Notable stats of Rohit Sharma in the limited-over games

After retirement from T20I and Tests, the experienced cricketer will be available only for One Day International matches. India's next ODI assignment is scheduled to start in August, in an away series against Bangladesh, starting August 17. Rohit has decent stats with his name in this format too. The Mumbaikar so far has played 273 matches in the Blues and bagged 11,168 runs at an impressive average of 48.76 and a strike rate of 92.80. Throughout his ODI career, Sharma amassed 58 half-centuries and 32 centuries, with a career-best score of 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in 2014.

His latest stint with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 was inspiring. After a staggering start in the initial stage of the tournament, Rohit grabbed his momentum and played multiple match-winning knocks for the franchise. In 15 IPL 2025 matches, he scored 418 runs at an average of 29.85 and a strike rate of 149.28. In the Eliminator match against Gujarat Titans, Sharma played an amazing 81-run knock to push his team into Qualifier 2, where they were defeated by Punjab Kings. 

A day after announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Virat Kohli was seen at Mumbai Airport, and a quick but emotional exchange with a paparazzo drew eyeballs. As he passed through the terminal on May 13, 2025, one of the photographers shouted out, "Virat sir, retirement kyon le li? Khel nahin dekhne dega ab." Kohli, looking somewhat uneasy, said something curt and then moved off. The video clip of this scene rapidly went viral, touching the hearts of fans throughout social media.

Kohli's retirement on May 12, 2025, signaled the conclusion of a remarkable red-ball career that lasted 123 Tests and yielded 9,906 runs. Kohli departed the format just 94 runs shy of the beloved 10,000-run mark that has only been achieved by a select few legends. His announcement brought on conflicting feelings: pride in his incredible contribution to the format and frustration that he was so near yet so far from adding to his records.

This airport moment was not merely about a media interaction—it was representative of a larger change. Kohli, who wore his love for Test cricket on his sleeve, has now formally brought to a close an era in which he embodied India's competitive advantage abroad and domestically. For fans, it's the end of a golden chapter they grew up witnessing.

Focus Shifts to ODIs and 2027 World Cup

With Test cricket behind him, Kohli will now be set to target ODIs and the IPL as well, hoping to leave his mark in the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. He already has 13,906 runs in ODIs, and his experience is still crucial to India's limited-overs aspirations.

Watch the video here

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at Mumbai Airport ✈️

- Paps to Virat : Virat sir why did you take retirement? We will not see cricket any more! 💔 pic.twitter.com/rXY8k4iqN4

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) May 13, 2025

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The emotional goodbye, particularly the earnest moment at the airport, is not just a testament to his individual shift but also to the strong bond between Kohli and the millions of fans. Even in silence, everyone felt the burden of his choice.