Mitchell Marsh of Australia bats during the one day international series game between Australia and India at Perth Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Numerous rain breaks made for a long day in Perth. But for many who cut short their Sunday sleep before the Spectator to catch the action, the day was done by breakfast. The seven-wicket defeat at 16:40 IST was more academic as the Aussies took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are looking to extend their international careers till the 2027 ODI World Cup, looked rusty in their 22-ball stay at the crease while the sun was still out. The stump interrogation from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc that curtailed their Test careers 11 months ago proved too much for both greats and with the white ball. Rohit (8) edged Hazlewood’s delivery which bounced a bit from a good length and Matt Renshaw took an easy catch at slip.
Arshdeep Singh press conference after IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Praises captain Gill, backs Virat Kohli
Starc bowled a few lightly full ones to Kohli, walked in at No. 3, then held the length just short of the back. He got the outside half of the 51 ton bat and Cooper Connolly did what was needed at gully. Reduced to 21-2 in 6.1 overs – a run rate that was ridiculously low for those accustomed to Abhishek Sharma’s diet in the Powerplay – it was crucial that skipper Shubman Gill started.But Gill (10) was hit on the leg by medium pacer Nathan Ellis on his first ball and the task was made even tougher for the rest of the batting line-up. It was at this time that the heavens opened for the first time and the stops were repeated in a loop, with overs being limited.There was also some interest in new vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, but even he couldn’t negotiate his nemesis between the breaks – the underarm short ball. Iyer (11) bowled Hazlewood (2-20), who hit an impeccable length and played seven overs at the trot, and wicketkeeper Josh Phillippe completed a smart catch.Audar, Rahul infuseAmid these mishaps, KL Rahul’s class once again shined. Not too long ago, he was busy guiding India to a slow-turnover Test series win in Kotle. The Optus ground is as far from the Kotla as New Delhi is from Perth, but that hardly bothered the Bengaluru boy. Rahul (38 off 31 balls) did not seem fazed by the quality of Australia’s pace attack or the rain as the match eventually settled at 26 overs. The right-hander’s 39-run partnership with the plucky Axar Patel (31) did inject some life into the Indian innings, but the damage was already done. Still, they have unleashed the odd powerful shot and one hopes that once the conditions ease in Adelaide, things will improve for the Indian batsmen.Australian striker Marsh India needed more than the odd wicket in the opening overs to make the 131-run target look threatening. But at the Optus pitch, which was quite spicy due to the humidity and the lights on, India sorely missed Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj was his usual heart, while Arshdeep Singh had Travis Head early, but the Indian attack lacked the edge to see Australia through.
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Captain Mitchell Marsh 46* (52b) after some initial aggressiveness, cut back after a few wickets, well aware that there was a lot of inexperience around Australia’s middle order. Among the pacers, Harshit Rana (027 off 4) was the most disappointing, delivering the odd loose ball in every over, taking the pressure off Marsh and young Phillippe (37). Their 55-run third-wicket stand killed the game.It ended up being a walk in the park. Just like the Aussies on November 19, 2023.
