Indian captain Rohit Sharma received a heartfelt embrace before departing to Rajkot for the third and final ODI match against Australia at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, September 27. This warm farewell followed quality time with his family after the Asia Cup 2023 final. Rohit, Virat Kohli, vice-captain Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav had rested for the first two ODIs.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma leaves for Rajkot ahead of the Third ODI against Australia

A video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows Rohit Sharma's wife, Ritika Sajdeh, hugging him before he left for Rajkot from Mumbai airport. Fans are delighted to see the captain back, and the video has gone viral. Rohit has been performing well in cricket, scoring 194 runs in five innings at the Asia Cup 2023, including three consecutive half-centuries against Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In 2023, he has scored 577 runs in 14 innings at an average of 48.08, including one century and five fifties. He aims to perform well in the final ODI against Australia before the ODI World Cup 2023.

Rohit Sharma on the way to Rajkot for the 3rd ODI. [Viral Bhayani]

- Cutest video of the day.pic.twitter.com/ysOSoKjEkS

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 26, 2023

In Rohit Sharma's absence, stand-in captain KL Rahul delivered for Team India. The team won the first ODI by five wickets and the second match by 99 runs via the DLS method. Rahul scored 58* and 52 in the first two ODIs, respectively. Suryakumar Yadav contributed with two consecutive half-centuries, scoring 50 and an unbeaten 72 in the first and second games, respectively.

In the Indore ODI, Shreyas Iyer also performed well with his 105 off 90 balls, including three sixes and 11 boundaries. Mohammed Shami picked up five wickets in the first ODI among the bowlers, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each in the second match. Rohit Sharma and his team aim to complete a 3-0 whitewash by winning the Rajkot ODI.

The teams move to Rajkot, with both sides set to field full-strength XIs in the third and final ODI on September 27. The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is scheduled to start on October 5 in India, with England, the defending champions, playing New Zealand in a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final. Hosts India's first game will be on October 8 against five-time winners Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

India squad for 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill (reportedly rested), Shardul Thakur (reportedly rested)