There's something inherently cinematic about the Indian team sheet for Sunday's first ODI against Australia in Perth. The cast includes two men who have defined an era, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and a fresh-faced captain in Shubman Gill, whose leadership story is just beginning. It is as if Indian cricket is attempting to shoot its sequel while the heroes of the original are still very much on set.
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The stage could not be more fitting: Australia, a land that has shaped, tested, and at times humbled India's biggest names. This time, however, the script carries two parallel plots, the long-awaited comeback of Kohli and Rohit to their favourite format and Gill's first full assignment as India's ODI captain. And the audience is ready: ticket sales for India's tour, three ODIs followed by five T20Is, have been massive, with over 50,000 expected at Optus Stadium, a crowd size reached only twice in the venue's history.
RO-KO'S FINAL DASH
Seven months after their last international appearance and nearly five months since their final IPL outing, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the format that still feels distinctly theirs. For two batters who have mastered almost every aspect of the modern game, ODIs remain their most expressive canvas, fam
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