New Delhi: Team India stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma equalled an elite record held by the legendary pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid during the 3rd ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Saturday. Kohli and Rohit matched Dravid and Tendulkar’s record for most matches played for India as a pair across formats in international cricket.
Kohli made his 305th ODI appearance for India in Sydney on Saturday, while Rohit took the field in his 267th ODI for India. The duo have together featured in a staggering 391 matches for India across formats, going on level terms with Tendulkar and Dravid, who played 391 matches together for India across formats from 1996 to 2012.
Rohit made his India debut in 2007, while Kohli played his first international game for India a year later in 2008. Rohit was part of the playing XI when Kohli made his India debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on August 18, 2008. The duo have since played 60 Tests, 225 ODIs and 106 T20I matches for India together.
Virat Kohli / Rohit Sharma – 391 matches*
Sachin Tendulkar / Rahul Dravid – 391 matches
Rahul Dravid / Sourav Ganguly – 369 matches
Sachin Tendulkar / Anil Kumble – 367 matches
Sachin Tendulkar / Sourav Ganguly – 341 matches
Kohli and Rohit were vital cogs in India’s batting line up in all three formats till 2024, when the duo decided to retire together from T20Is after helping India lift the T20 World Cup last year. The duo, who have been the backbone of the India batting line-up over the years, also retired from Test cricket within a week earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar made his ODI debut in 1989, seven years before Dravid played his first game for India in 1996, where the Master Blaster was part of the XI. The duo played 146 Tests and 245 ODI matches together. Their last appearance as a pair came in 2012 as Dravid announced his retirement after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2011-12.
