PERTH: The much-anticipated return of Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the ODI format turned into an anticlimax, as a dominant performance by the Australian bowlers and an aggressive chase sealed a comfortable seven-wicket victory for the hosts in the rain-affected first One-Day International at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
The series, carrying immense sentimental value for Indian fans who hadn’t seen the duo in national colours since the Champions Trophy final last February, began with the bad omen of India losing their 16th consecutive ODI toss. Australia’s acting captain, Mitchell Marsh, opted to bowl first.
India’s Innings: An Initial Stutter and a Late Scramble
India’s innings was characterized by an early collapse of their high-profile top order, followed by a determined late fightback.
- The Disappointing Comeback: All eyes were on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both playing their first ODI since announcing their retirement from Test and T20I formats. However, their comeback ended in a whimper. Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply for just eight runs, nicking a sharp delivery from Josh Hazlewood. Moments later, Virat Kohli lasted only eight balls before mistiming Mitchell Starc straight to point, registering his first-ever ODI duck in Australia. The pair combined for just eight runs, pushing India immediately onto the back foot in the first 10 overs.
- The Late Fight: After the collapse, the match was reduced to a 26-over-a-side contest due to persistent rain delays. Valuable lower-order contributions from KL Rahul (38), Axar Patel (31), and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (19)* injected some much-needed pace into the innings with late fireworks. These efforts ensured India’s bowlers had something to defend, but a total of 136/9 still left Australia as firm favourites, with a revised DLS target of 131 runs needed for victory.
Australia’s Chase: Marsh and Philippe Lead the Charge
Chasing 131 in 26 overs, Australia’s aggressive approach quickly stamped out any Indian hopes.
- Counter-Attack: Despite the early loss of Travis Head to a brilliant second-ball wicket by Arshdeep Singh, Australia never relinquished their stronghold. Skipper Mitchell Marsh immediately launched a counter-attack, preventing India from building pressure.
- Decisive Partnership: Marsh was joined by Matt Short, and though Short took time to settle, the duo maintained a high run rate. After Axar Patel picked up the wicket of Matt Short, Josh Philippe walked in and quickly got used to the conditions. Philippe soon started aggressively taking down the Indian bowlers, propelling Australia rapidly towards the target.
- Victory Line: The match was decisively tipped in favour of the hosts when Washington Sundar finally dismissed Josh Philippe. However, by then, the damage was done. Mitchell Marsh stood tall (scoring a brilliant half-century), and alongside Matt Renshaw, guided Australia past the victory line with seven wickets in hand and 29 balls remaining in the game, marking an authoritative start to the series.
The Context: A Series That Means More
This three-match series has generated unusual hype due to the diminishing role of ODIs and the singular focus on the future of Kohli and Rohit. Having retired from T20Is and Tests, the two modern greats are now exclusively dedicated to the ODI format, with their presence in the 2027 World Cup a looming question mark.
The series also marks a crucial period for the Indian team, now led by Shubman Gill in white-ball cricket, and playing without their talismanic pacer Jasprit Bumrah (rested). In contrast, a slightly under-strength Australian side, missing key players like Pat Cummins and Cameron Green, proved yet again that they are never to be counted out, seizing the early advantage in this highly anticipated contest.