Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist met Rohit Sharma at Adelaide Oval before the second ODI of the series and clicked a selfie with him. Later, Gilchrist shared a nostalgic post on Instagram, recalling the first time he met Indian opener at the same venue in February 2008. The legendary wicketkeeper who led now-defunct Deccan Chargers to Indian Premier League (IPL) glory, wrote about his friendship with Rohit who was a youngster while Gill was moving towards end of his career.
“This bloke reminded me today it was standing on this very ground, the beautiful @adelaideoval when we first met each other in 2008. It was just when we’d both been bought by the Deccan Chargers, in the very first @iplt20 auction. From there a friendship was born. An old bull leaving International cricket, partnering with a young bull on the rise to becoming one of Indias greats. @rohitsharma45 it’s been a pleasure to play against and with you, to observe you as a broadcaster and fan, and even better to know you as a mate. #kepke," Gilchrist wrote in the post.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri asked Gilchrist about his conversation with Rohit and how the opener’s mindset is currently.
"I gotta say he is looking and sounding very relaxed. He was reminding me it was on this very venue where we first met back in 2008, just after the IPL auction had taken place, and we worked out we were going to be teammates. It was the old bull and the young bull. I was on my way out of international cricket and he was coming in. He's keen to get out there,” Gilchrist old Shastri on the broadcast.
Rohit starts slow, scores crucial 73
Rohit struggled against Josh Hazlewood during the pacer’s opening spell. After two early wickets, he prevented a collapse alongside Shreyas Iyer. The 38-year-old accelerated and got to his fifty from 74 balls, his slowest fifty in a decade. He scored 73 runs from 97 balls laced with seven fours and a couple of sixes. He shared an 118-run partnership for the third wicket with Iyer who scored 61 runs from 77 balls.
Rohit achieves milestones
Meanwhile, Rohit became the first Indian and fifth overall visiting batter to score 1,000 or more ODI runs against Australia. He surpassed former captain Sourav Ganguly on the list of highest run-scorers in ODIs to take the third spot.