PERTH
Rain played a major role in the opening ODI of India’s tour of Australia, as multiple interruptions in Perth forced a revised 26-over match under the DLS method. Defending a modest target of 131, India could not contain the hosts, who cruised to a seven-wicket victory with 29 balls to spare.
Winning the toss, Australia sent India in to bat under overcast conditions. Rohit Sharma fell early, edging Hazlewood to Matt Renshaw, while Virat Kohli was dismissed for a duck — his first in 30 ODIs in Australia. Shubman Gill’s brief 10-run innings was followed by rain delays that disrupted India’s momentum. When play resumed, the overs were reduced to 26, and Axar Patel and Iyer tried to stabilize the innings, taking India to 27/3. Further interruptions saw wickets tumble, with Axar and Rahul attempting to accelerate. Rahul’s late boundaries helped India reach 136/9 in the shortened match.
Chasing 131, Australia started cautiously, losing Travis Head early, but captain Mitchell Marsh anchored the innings with a 46* to steer the team home. Marsh and Short built a steady partnership, keeping the scoring rate consistent. Despite wickets from Axar and Sundar, Australia maintained control, with contributions from Matt Renshaw and Marsh sealing the win.
The game saw aggressive batting, tight bowling spells, and tactical adjustments due to rain, frustrating both players and fans. India’s top-order collapse combined with intermittent rain interruptions ultimately handed Australia a comfortable victory.
The series now shifts to Adelaide, where India will look to regroup and challenge the hosts in the second ODI. Twitter and fan reactions highlighted frustration at the weather interruptions, with many lamenting India’s missed opportunities in the shortened contest.
Rohit and Kohli’s Perth ODI Return Disappoints, Fans Voice Frustration
Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled in their long-awaited return in the first ODI against Australia in Perth. Rohit managed only eight runs off 14 balls, while Kohli was dismissed for a duck, his first ODI zero in Australia. Opening with high expectations after seven months away, both failed to stabilize India’s innings, leaving fans disappointed. Early dismissals, including captain Shubman Gill, and ongoing rain interruptions reduced the match to 35 overs, putting India on the backfoot as Australia reached 37/3 after 11.5 overs.
