IND vs ENG: RoKo Create Unique Record, Surpass Sachin-Dravid to Become First Indian Pair to Play 400 International Matches Together

Former India captains Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli created history at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, becoming the first pair from India to play 400 international matches together. The landmark feat was achieved when the pair walked out to play the third ODI against England.

Rohit and Virat have already gone past the record of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who played 391 matches together for India. Internationally, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene lead the all-time record with a whopping 550 appearances together. With their 400th match together, RoKo now ranks 7th on that list.

RoKo: The Backbone Of Indian Cricket

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the backbone of India’s batting for nearly two decades. Rohit made his international debut in 2007, while Kohli followed a year later, ushering in an era that would define Indian cricket across formats.

Over the years, the duo has played a pivotal role in some of India’s biggest successes, including the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and two ICC Champions Trophy titles. Their consistency and longevity are also reflected in the record books, with Kohli ranking as India’s second-highest run-scorer in ODI history with 14,867 runs, while Rohit sits third with 11,757 runs.

Will Ro-Ko Be Dehyphenated By BCCI?

This milestone arrives at a time of intense speculation regarding Rohit Sharma’s international future. According to a report by The Indian Express, national selectors are looking to transition away from the 39-year-old opening batsman, meaning the Lord’s decider could potentially be his final appearance in the Indian jersey. Both Rohit and Kohli have already retired from Test matches and T20 Internationals, making the 50-over format their only active arena in international cricket.

Despite the talk surrounding his future, Rohit stepped onto the historic Lord’s turf alongside Kohli to seal their place in the record books. The historic achievement added immense significance to this all-important 3rd match with the ODI series tied at 1-1 after India won the opening fixture and England bounced back to win the second game.