Former India pacer Varun Aaron has urged fans and team management not to overreact after India’s seven-wicket loss to Australia in the opening ODI in Perth on 19 October. Aaron said the defeat is just a small setback and believes the team, along with veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, can bounce back in the remaining matches of the series.
At the opener in Perth, fans were buzzing about the return of Kohli and Rohit to international cricket, but Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, he quickly took control and dashed those hopes with a dominant all-round display. In a rain-affected 26-over clash, India struggled on a bouncy Perth track, managing just 136 for nine. Kohli was dismissed for a duck while Rohit could scrape together just eight runs, giving India an uphill battle right from the start.
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh produced a match-winning knock with an unbeaten 48, India suffered a loss of 7 wickets to raise the concerns loudly.
Perth ODI, IND vs AUS: Highlights | Scorecard
Speaking to JioHotstar after the match, Aaron said there was no reason to hit the panic button just yet and pointed out that Adelaide, the venue for the second ODI on October 23, should be much better for the Indian batsmen.
“I believe the Adelaide surface will suit the Indians a lot more than what we saw today. It won’t have as much bounce, it will have a more even pace and there should be less lateral movement,” Aaron said.
He also advised the team to stay calm and take the loss in Perth as a lesson rather than a fear.
“The key for India is not to hit the panic button too early. It’s their first game outside the subcontinent in a long time, so some adjustment is natural. If they lose the second game, there may be concerns, but for now it’s just one of those days. Somebody’s got to win, somebody’s got to lose and Australia were just the better team today,” he added.
India returned to ODI cricket after their Champions Trophy win in March and the rust showed. Rohit and Kohli, both returning after nearly four months away from competitive cricket, struggled to find their rhythm against Australia’s blistering attack.
Australia ended their long wait for an ODI win at the Optus Stadium after earlier losses to England, South Africa and Pakistan. Now India will look to regroup quickly. Adelaide has often brought out the best in Kohli and it could be the perfect place for the Indian batsmen to get back into form for the second ODI.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
October 19, 2025
