Sydney bows down to India's crown jewels Rohit & Kohli

Veterans delight fans with unbroken second-wicket stand of 168 off 170 in third ODI against Australia, helping team avoid series whitewash in the process

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

FOR over two hours on Saturday afternoon, the TV sets in a vast number of households across India had the same channel on.

The remote was locked away just in case somebody dared change the channel. A few timezones away in Sydney, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were gradually turning the clock back to a time when the cricketing world revolved around these old dogs, the two dads who had come to represent the two lungs of Indian cricket.

At the same ground in 2008, one Indian fan had come prepared with a famous banner. “Commit all your crimes,” it began. “when Sachin is batting. They will go unnoticed for even the lord is busy watching him.”

On Saturday, even the ones committing the crimes would have tuned in because how could one not? In isolation, the third match of a three-match series with the series already decided generally means there’s nothing but some pride to play for. Like some extras playing with cards at the poker table after the money has been locked away for the night.