Flashback to 2008: How Rohit Sharma fared in first ODI series Down Under

Flashback to 2008: How Rohit Sharma fared in first ODI series Down Under (AFP Photo)

As India travels to Australia for a full-fledged white-ball series, senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be under intense scrutiny. Having retired from T20Is and Tests, Rohit and Kohli are part of the three-match ODI series and with the 2027 World Cup firmly in their sights, the former captains of India will try to use this opportunity to make a solid point.

When the squads for Australia were released earlier this month, Rohit was replaced by Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain. His last appearance for India was against New Zealand at the Champions Trophy final, during which he scored 76 off 83 in a 252-run chase.

As the much-awaited ODI series is less than a week away, here's a look at Rohit's maiden outing in a 50-over series Down Under. It was back in 2007–08 - the Commonwealth Bank Series - and also featured Sri Lanka.

India and Australia played their first encounter on February 3, 2008, in Brisbane. Rain cut short the match, and after India reached 194 runs, it was called off, with Rohit scoring 29 runs.

India next played Sri Lanka in Brisbane on February 5, but it was another washout, with Rohit falling for a duck against Muttiah Muralitharan. In his subsequent encounter against Australia on February 10, he displayed glimmer of his class when, chasing 159, his undefeated 39 helped India cross the finish line with five wickets in hand.

After Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were dismissed early in the next match against Sri Lanka on February 12, Rohit put up crucial partnerships with Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, compiling an undefeated 70 runs as India reached 195. However, India lost by 8 wickets according to the Duckworth-Lewis method as the weather took its toll.

In the next games, in which India played Australia and Sri Lanka twice apiece, he scored 24 and 3 against Sri Lanka on February 19 and 26 respectively, and managed 1 and 1 against Australia on February 17 and 24.

India's next encounter was the first of the Best of Three finals in Sydney, when Rohit displayed his class by smashing 66 runs in a 239-run chase. Tendulkar's 117 helped India win. Rohit and Tendulkar also shared a 123-run partnership.

With a score of 258/9, aided by Tendulkar's 91, India won the second game in Brisbane by 9 runs. Rohit was only able to contribute 2 runs this time, but the series was won anyway. India won the first two games, so the third game wasn't necessary.