There is something inherently cinematic about the Indian squad for Sunday’s first ODI against Australia in Perth. The cast includes two era-defining men, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and a fresh-faced captain in Shubman Gill, whose lead story is just beginning. It’s as if Indian cricket is trying to make its sequel while the heroes of the original are still on set.
The stage couldn’t be more fitting: Australia, the country that has molded, tested and at times humbled India’s biggest names. This time, however, the script carries two parallel plots, the long-awaited return of Kohli and Rohit to their favorite format and Gill’s first full charge as India’s ODI captain. And the audience is ready: India tour ticket salesthree ODIs followed by five T20Is, was massive, with more than 50,000 expected at Optus Stadium, a crowd size achieved only twice in the venue’s history.
RO-KO’S FINAL DASH
Seven months after their last international appearance and almost five months since their last IPL outing, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are returning to a format that is still distinctly their own. For two batsmen who have mastered almost every facet of the modern game, ODIs remain their most distinctive canvas, familiar, challenging and deeply personal.
But this is more than a comeback. It is a moment of transition where experience and change share the same dressing room. For the first time, two of India’s most famous captains will play under a player who once looked up to them. It’s continuity without conflict, a generational relay where the baton passes respect rather than exchange.
This series against Australia could mark the start of their last dash in international cricket. After stepping down from T20Is and Test cricket, the ODI format that made them global icons is now their last major stage. Time becomes a factor not only for them but also for the selectors and team management who will be watching closely to see if they can sustain their performance till the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
It wasn’t that long ago that these two were making such decisions for others. They both prepared for this return in silence. Kohli, who trains privately in London, takes every comeback as a mission. Leaner and more measured, Rohit seems to be aiming to extend his career with renewed discipline and clarity.
Their biggest test will be rhythm, shaking off the rust of inactivity from the IPL and adapting quickly to Australian conditions that reveal technical weaknesses. For Kohli, it’s about balancing aggression with patience. For Rohit, it’s all about tempering instincts against the new ball, especially when Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood come into play.
GILL’S CHAPTER BEGINS
Shubman Gill’s first assignment as India’s ODI captain comes with a unique twist: he will lead a side with two legends of the modern era, Rohit Sharma, the outgoing captain, and Virat Kohli, his predecessor. Kohli and Rohit last played under a different captain nine years ago against New Zealand.
Gill will need Ro-Ko’s experience to handle his ODI captaincy debut. In the nets, Kohli, ever the meticulous technician, was seen correcting Gill’s footwork and shot selection, with advice provided by precise hand gestures and visual cues. After the session, Gill engaged in a detailed discussion with Rohit near the marked pitch at Optus Stadium, gesturing towards the middle and the spoken field placement and shot execution – a clear sign of strategic planning ahead of the start of the series.
Gill now stands as a bridge between the past and the future. Hailed as the heir to Kohli’s precision and Rohit’s effortless timing, he enters the most delicate phase of his career. His batting credentials are established but captaincy requires composure, strategy and steely nerves.
He doesn’t just take over as captain; inherits an inheritance. Rohit leaves behind a remarkable 75 percent of ODI wins, the best in India’s history, while Kohli’s intensity remains the gold standard. If Rohit led with instinct and empathy, Gill leads with structure and composure, tasked with blending experience and innovation in equal measure.
The challenge looms large, but Gill remains unfazed. Encouraged by Mitchell Marsh, Australia will test his ability to balance personal performance with managing senior players. Speaking ahead of his debut assignment as ODI captain Gill pointed out, “I have a very good relationship with both Virat Bhai and Rohit Bhai. Whenever I have doubts about anything, I go to them, take their suggestions, ask their advice and they never hesitate to tell me anything. You see, I think that’s the real wealth of experience,” he told reporters.
This marks Gill’s first step in shaping India’s white-ball identity for the next cycle as the Men in Blue quietly begin their march towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.
AUSTRALIA STARTS SUMMER SEASON
Australia head into their summer season juggling several priorities: preparing for the next ODI World Cup, laying the groundwork for the Ashes, keeping key players fit and, for now, trying to get one past a strong Indian side to beat them in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. The home side had hoped to field their best XI, but injuries and personal absences disrupted plans.
Pat Cummins’ fitness for the Ashes remains uncertain, Josh Inglis will miss the first two games with a calf strain, Cameron Green will sit out the series with a side issue and Adam Zampa is out due to the birth of his second child. Alex Carey is set to join later in Adelaide as the batting order continues to settle in the post-Smith and post-Maxwell era.
With Mitchell Starc, Travis Head and a strong supporting cast Australia will be eager to spoil The highly anticipated return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli when the ODI series begins on October 19.
AUS vs IND: PERTH WEATHER NEWS
The rain gods might intervene in the expected return of the Ro-Ko ODI, with showers in Perth ahead of Sunday’s 11.30am kick-off and a chance of rain climbing above 35 per cent during the match. The interruption could test both the concentration of the players and the patience of the fans. The forecast can also influence the toss, with skippers likely to bowl first to take advantage of overcast conditions that favor the sailors.
AUS vs IND: PERTH PITCH REPORT
Optus Stadium has only hosted three ODIs so far, with the teams batting second winning out of the two, giving the bowlers an early advantage. The pitch is widely regarded as a fast bowler’s paradise and boasts an average first innings score of just 183, while the most successful chase is a modest 153. The batsmen will need to respect the pace and bounce before attempting any flashy shots. Factor in Perth’s lively bounce and the middle order could face a stern test of both technique and temperament. Notably, Australia have lost all three of their ODIs at this venue.
AUS vs IND: HEAD-TO-HEAD in ODIs
India and Australia have met in 152 ODIs, with the Men in Blue winning 58 and Australia winning 84, while 10 ended in no result. In Australia, India have won just 14 out of 54 encounters, losing 38, while walking away with two matches. Their only bilateral series win Down Under came in 2019, a 2-1 triumph, while the last meeting was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, which Rohit Sharma’s side won by four wickets.
AUS vs IND: PREDICTED PLAYING XI
Gill and Rohit will open and Yashasvi Jaiswal as backup. Kohli is likely at No.3, followed by Shreyas Iyer and wicketkeeper KL Rahul, while Nitish Kumar Reddy could make his debut as an all-rounder in Hardik Pandya’s absence. India are yet to decide on the No.8 position and whether to include Washington Sundar for extra batting.
India: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Matt Renshaw and Mitch Owen will make their ODI debuts in the middle order, while Josh Philippe returns as wicket-keeper for the first time since 2021. Mitchell Marsh has confirmed they will not use a full-pace attack, so left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann will play for the first time on home soil, covering Zampa.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Josh Philippe (WK), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
October 18, 2025
