Australia defeated Team India by seven wickets (DLS method) in the 1st One Day International (ODI) at Optus Stadium in Perth, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Chasing a revised target of 131 runs in 26 overs, Mitchell Marsh led from the front with a responsible 46 off 52 balls*, guiding his team to victory in the 22nd over.
This match marked Shubman Gill’s ODI captaincy debut and the much-awaited return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international cricket. However, both the veterans failed to make an impact as India suffered a top-order collapse against Josh Hazlewood’s fiery spell.
Team India’s batting struggles in rain-interrupted clash
Multiple rain delays shortened the contest to 26 overs per side. Put in to bat first by Marsh, India managed only 136/9, struggling on a seaming track under lights. KL Rahul topped the indian batting charts with 38 off 32 balls, followed by Axar Patel with a quick 27 and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s fighting 15 on ODI debut.
Skipper Shubman Gill (10) and the mighty RoKo fail to provide a steady start, as the former captain was caught in the slips and Virat fell for a duck to a familiar fifth-stump length delivery.
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood was the hero with the ball, bowling a miserly spell of 2/20 in 7 overs, including 35 dot balls. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Ellis also kept India under pressure early on.
Australia’s calm chase led by Marsh
Batting conditions remained tricky early on, as both teams faced seam movement. Travis Head departed early to Arshdeep Singh, but Josh Philippe kept the scoreboard ticking with a brisk 37 off 29 balls.
Marsh absorbed pressure early, then switched gears with calculated big hits. ODI debutant Matt Renshaw scored 21 and finished the chase with Marsh*.
At no point did the visiting side seem to have a chance at a comeback after the Marsh junior thrashed Siraj early on, putting the pressure back on the star bowler following his recent heroics with the white ball.
The Men in Blue will look to bounce back in the second ODI, which will take place on October 22, 2025, and equal the three-match ODI series.
