The 207-run partnership between Rohit-Kohli was also the highest second wicket partnership for India against Australia after V.V.S. Laxman-Sachin Tendulkar (199) in Indore in March 2001.
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Rohit’s 171 off 163 balls, containing 13 fours and seven sixes, surpassed West Indies legend Richards’ unbeaten 153 in Melbourne in 1979.
He was ably supported by Virat Kohli who made a fine 91.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India put up 309 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
Kohli secured his first 50 in an ODI against Australia in Australia and he fell nine runs short of a century when he was well caught by Finch off James Faulkner.
Australia got a taste of Rohit’s blazing blade especially towards the end when India scored 61 off the last five overs.
Chasing the huge total, Australia got off to a disappointing start by losing both their hard-hitting openers Aaron Finch (8) and David Warner (5) to pacer Sran inside the first five overs. It means you are favourites or there is excitement around your team because you have played so well in the past and I think that is something for which we can hold our head high.
The last time these two met was in the 2015 Cricket World Cup semi-final with Smith’s 105 at the SCG helping the Australians through to the final, but just over half that squad will take on India on Tuesday.
Sharma and Kohli were quite confident in their approach and brought up the 50-run stand in 63 balls.
The Australian duo of current and former ODI skippers paced their innings nicely before taking on the Indian bowling, that saw appreciable effort from debutant Barinder Sran, who finished with best figures in the Indian bowling line-up, taking 3 for 56 in 9.2 overs. The match began in warm, overcast conditions after a brief shower, which seemed likely to suit an Australian pace attack that included two players on debut ” Joel Paris and Victorian Scott Boland.
Captain Smith made 149 while Bailey, who could have been given out before he had troubled the scorers, hit 112.
Accurate bowling from Sran and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0-42) reduced Australia to 40 for two in the powerplay phase.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sent back Bailey and Glenn Maxwell (six) in successive overs to give India hope but it was too little, too late.
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“(Defending) 310 is a lot of runs on any wicket in the world”.
