The word ‘Ro-Ko‘ has become a part of Indian cricket’s everyday language. In hindi, the word means ‘to stop’. However, in the cricketing world, the pair does stop a heartbreak of every Indian fan. The word now represents an era. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two of the biggest superstars India has ever produced, and even though they retired from Test and T20I cricket earlier in 2025, fans now wait for ODI series with a different kind of emotion. ODIs are the only format where the pair still play together, and both Rohit and Kohli are keeping the format relevant in the country.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli create history
On Sunday in Ranchi, the Ro-Ko legacy touched another historic milestone. During the first ODI between India and South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium, Rohit and Kohli broke the Indian record for the most international matches played together by a pair. The duo appeared in their 392nd international match, surpassing the iconic partnership of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who played 391 matches together between 1996 and 2012.
The previous record belonged to Sachin and Dravid, the heartbeat of Indian cricket through the early 2000s. On Sunday, Rohit walking out to open for India and Kohli at number three meant history was rewritten in front of a buzzing Ranchi crowd. The pair played their first match together way back in August 2008.
Most Matches Together – Indian Pairs
| Pair | Matches |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma – Virat Kohli | 392 |
| Sachin Tendulkar – Rahul Dravid | 391 |
| Rahul Dravid – Sourav Ganguly | 369 |
| Sachin Tendulkar – Anil Kumble | 367 |
| Sachin Tendulkar – Sourav Ganguly | 341 |
Rohit–Kohli Format-wise Breakdown
As undroppable as Rohit and Kohli would’ve been, it must be accepted that the duo was helped reaching this record due to the surge in T20Is. There were no T20Is in the era of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. But Rohit and Kohli together played 106 T20 internationals, with them also retiring together after clinching the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados.
Rohit made his India debut in 2007; Kohli followed in 2008, and the two have grown into leaders, match-winners and icons of modern cricket. Together, they lifted the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup and shaped some of India’s most unforgettable moments. On the global list, they now stand behind Sri Lankan greats Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who share the world record with a staggering 550 matches together.
The Ro-Ko chapter may be closer to the end than the beginning, but every time they walk out together in the blues of India, every fan breathes a sigh of relief.
| Format | Matches Together |
|---|---|
| Tests | 60 |
| ODIs | 226 |
| T20Is | 106 |
| Total | 392* (and counting) |
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