In a challenging start to the India-Australia ODI series, the Australian men’s cricket team defeated the India national cricket team by seven wickets at Optus Stadium, Perth. Rain interrupted the match four times, reducing the contest to 26 overs per side, but Australia maintained discipline throughout to chase the DLS-adjusted target of 131.
Batting first, India struggled early, losing three wickets for just 25 runs inside nine overs. Rohit Sharma, playing his 500th match for India, managed only 8 runs before being caught behind off Josh Hazlewood. Virat Kohli, amid a loud Perth crowd, fell for a duck, edging a Mitchell Starc delivery to backward point. Shubman Gill, who led India in the absence of regular captain, fell soon after, feathering a ball from Nathan Ellis to the wicketkeeper.
India vs Australia ODI Analysis
India’s middle-order fought back, with KL Rahul scoring 38 off 31 balls and Axar Patel contributing 31. Debutant Nitish Reddy added quick runs at the end, striking two sixes to help India reach 136/9. Despite these efforts, the total remained below par, putting India in a catch-up position against the Australian chase.
Australia’s innings was powered by stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh, who remained unbeaten at 46, while Josh Philippe supported with 37 runs. Arshdeep Singh removed Travis Head early, but Australia’s batting lineup was quick to recover, finishing the chase in 21.1 overs. The disciplined bowling of Axar Patel yielded 1-19, but the rain-adjusted target left India with little room for error.
This match marks India’s first ODI defeat in 2025, ending their streak of eight consecutive wins. Perth conditions posed challenges for the Indian lineup, highlighting the difficulty of defending totals under extreme pace and bounce. Shubman Gill admitted the need for learning from the match, noting, “Yes, when you lose three wickets in the powerplay, you are always trying to play a catch-up game. There are positives to take from this game.”
The ODI opener also underlined the impact of absent players like Jasprit Bumrah, rested for this series. India’s plan of batting depth at the cost of wicket-taking options in the middle overs was tested under Australian conditions. The team will need adjustments in Adelaide and Sydney to balance their lineup for both batting and bowling.
Brief scores: India 136/9 in 26 overs (KL Rahul 38, Axar Patel 31; Josh Hazlewood 2-20, Matthew Kuhnemann 2-26) lost to Australia 131/3 in 21.1 overs (Mitchell Marsh 46*, Josh Philippe 37) by seven wickets (DLS method).
The next ODI between the Indian cricket team and Australian men’s cricket team will be held in Adelaide. Fans can follow ind vs aus live updates, scorecards, and streaming on major platforms to stay connected with India-Australia cricket action.
