India Complete 3-0 ODI Whitewash Over Australia in Record-Breaking Finale

India delivered a historic statement at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, completing a 3-0 ODI series whitewash over Australia with a commanding 142-run victory in the 3rd and final ODI on January 20, 2026. Batting first after Rohit Sharma won the toss on a flat MCG deck, India posted a colossal 418 for 5 — the highest ODI total ever recorded in Australia — powered by Shubman Gill’s breathtaking 152 off 118 balls (16 fours, 4 sixes) and Virat Kohli’s imperious 124 off 108* (12 fours, 2 sixes). Their 218-run third-wicket partnership (India’s highest vs Australia in ODIs) turned a strong position into total domination. Australia, in reply, were bundled out for 276 in 46.4 overs despite Steve Smith’s defiant 112 (his 32nd ODI century) — Jasprit Bumrah’s 4 for 58 and Kuldeep Yadav’s 3 for 62 ripping through the middle order. The win margin is India’s largest in Australia by runs and marks their first ODI series whitewash Down Under since 2003-04.

The MCG, under a packed 82,000 crowd and floodlit drama, produced the highest aggregate (694 runs) in an India-Australia ODI. The pink-soil pitch, with its true bounce and short square boundaries, favored strokeplay, but dew post-30 overs made bowling a nightmare. Rohit’s decision to bat first was vindicated by Gill and Kohli’s carnage, while Australia’s bowling economy of 8.38 was their worst in a home ODI vs India. For Pat Cummins, the whitewash was a bitter pill — his side’s inability to take early wickets and 24 extras proving fatal. As Kohli lofted the winning six off Adam Zampa amid fireworks and chants of “Kohli! Kohli!”, the tour narrative closed triumphantly: India’s batting depth reigns supreme, Australia’s home fortress breached.

India XI Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav

Australia XI Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

India – 418-5 (50 overs) Rohit (48) and Gill added 88 before Rohit edged Starc. Gill and Kohli forged 218 in 142 balls — Gill’s 152 (118 balls, 16×4, 4×6) fastest ODI ton by an Indian in Australia, Kohli’s 124* (108 balls, 12×4, 2×6) clinical. Pant (38 off 22) and Hardik (28 off 18) added 82 in the last five overs. Starc 2-88, Hazlewood 1-98 — rest went for 10+ an over.

Australia – 276 all out (46.4 overs) Head (28) and Short (38) added 68 before Siraj bowled Short. Smith and Labuschagne added 112 — Smith’s 112 (118 balls, 10×4, 2×6) vintage, Labuschagne 62 off 78. Maxwell (38 off 28) and Stoinis (28 off 18) pushed the total, but Bumrah’s death yorkers (4-58) and Kuldeep’s googly web (3-62) triggered the collapse.

Key Moments

• Gill-Kohli 218-run stand — highest 3rd-wicket vs AUS in ODIs
• Gill’s 152 — fastest T20I-style ODI ton by an Indian in Australia
• 142-run win margin — India’s largest by runs in Australia (any format)
• 694 aggregate runs — highest in an India-Australia ODI
• Bumrah’s 4-58 — best death-over figures by an Indian in MCG

Player of the Match: Shubman Gill (152)

Rohit Sharma: “Gill and Kohli were unreal. Bowlers set it up perfectly. Series done — now T20Is.”

Pat Cummins: “We were 50-60 short. Credit to India — they chased and bowled like champions.”

Final Series Result: India 3–0 Australia

India now turn to the T20I series starting February 1; Australia lick wounds before facing South Africa in February.

White-ball kings crowned in Melbourne — India march on.