Perth, Australia - All eyes were on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as India faced Australia in the first One Day International (ODI) at Perth Stadium on Sunday, marking their return to the national side after a seven-month absence. The match also signified the start of Shubman Gill's tenure as the full-time ODI captain, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The hosts are looking to leverage their home advantage, while India, fresh off their Champions Trophy 2025 victory, aimed to start the three-match series on a high note.
The return of Sharma and Kohli has generated considerable excitement among fans, with over 50,000 spectators expected at Optus Stadium. Their presence brings a wealth of experience and stability to the Indian batting lineup. Rohit Sharma is set to play his 500th international match, joining an elite club of cricketers. He needs just 54 runs to surpass Sourav Ganguly and become India's third-highest ODI run-scorer. Meanwhile, Kohli has the chance to become the second-leading run-scorer in ODIs if he scores 54 runs in this match. For both Kohli and Sharma, this series is an opportunity to reaffirm their dominance in the 50-over format with the 2027 World Cup in sight.
Shubman Gill's captaincy debut adds a fresh dimension to the Indian team. At just 55 ODIs, Gill is taking on the leadership role. Despite his relative inexperience, Gill's batting prowess is well-established, and his leadership skills will be tested alongside seasoned campaigners like Sharma and Kohli. Shreyas Iyer has been named as the vice-captain for the series.
India's likely playing XI includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh. Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to receive his maiden ODI cap as the all-rounder.
Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, will be without Cameron Green due to injury, with Marnus Labuschagne replacing him. The Australian squad also features young talents like Cooper Connolly and Matthew Renshaw. The predicted Australian XI includes Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Josh Philippe (WK), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, and Ben Dwarshuis.
The ODI series is scheduled as follows:
- 1st ODI: October 19 in Perth.
- 2nd ODI: October 23 in Adelaide.
- 3rd ODI: October 25 in Sydney.
The series will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India, with live streaming available on the JioHotstar app and website.
