Key Points:
- India suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Australia in the first ODI at Optus Stadium, Perth on October 19, 2025, marking Shubman Gill’s losing debut as ODI captain
- India collapsed to just 136/9 in 26 overs in a rain-affected match, with Australia chasing down a revised DLS target of 131 in 21.1 overs
- Shubman Gill became only the second Indian captain after Virat Kohli to lose his first match across all three formats (Test, ODI, T20I)
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli flopped on their international comeback after four months, scoring 8 and 0, respectively
- India’s eight-match winning streak in ODIs in 2025 came to an end with this defeat
- Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 46 and Josh Philippe’s 37 guided Australia to a comfortable victory
New Delhi: The Indian lineup crumbled spectacularly at Optus Stadium as the top order failed to cope with the pace and bounce offered by Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Rohit Sharma, playing as a non-captain for the first time in over four years, managed just 8 runs off 14 balls before edging a Hazlewood delivery to slip. Virat Kohli’s return to international cricket after four months proved disastrous as he departed without scoring, caught at point off Starc’s bowling after facing just seven deliveries.
Captain Shubman Gill’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for 10 runs, caught down the leg side, leaving India reeling at 25/3 inside nine overs. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer fell victim to a vicious Hazlewood bouncer, scoring only 11 off 24 balls, which left India gasping at 45/4.
Rahul and Axar’s Resistance Proves Insufficient
KL Rahul provided the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal batting performance, top-scoring with a fighting 38 runs off 31 deliveries. Axar Patel, promoted to number five, contributed 31 runs as the duo stitched together a 39-run partnership to stabilize the innings temporarily. However, frequent rain interruptions, four in total, disrupted their rhythm and prevented any meaningful recovery.
Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy showcased his power-hitting abilities in the final over, smashing two big sixes to add valuable runs, finishing with 19 off 11 balls. Despite his heroics, India could only post 136/9 in their allotted 26 overs before rain reduced the contest.
Marsh Leads Australia to Comfortable Chase
Chasing a revised DLS target of 131 runs, Australia made light work of the challenge. Captain Mitchell Marsh anchored the innings with an unbeaten 46, displaying composure and experience as he guided his team home. Josh Philippe contributed a brisk 37 runs at the top of the order, providing Australia with a solid platform.
The Indian bowlers failed to make any significant impact, unable to create pressure or take regular wickets as Australia cruised to victory in just 21.1 overs with seven wickets in hand. The comprehensive win gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and marked their first ODI victory at Optus Stadium after previous losses to England, South Africa, and Pakistan at the venue.
Gill Joins Unwanted Captaincy Club
The defeat proved particularly painful for Shubman Gill as it confirmed his place in an exclusive but unwanted club of Indian captains. Gill became only the second Indian skipper after Virat Kohli to lose his debut match across all three international formats. He had previously lost his T20I captaincy debut against Zimbabwe on July 6, 2024 (by 13 runs) and his Test captaincy debut against England at Headingley, Leeds earlier in 2025 (by 5 wickets).
Virat Kohli holds a similar record, having lost his ODI debut as captain against Sri Lanka in Kingston, his Test debut at Adelaide against Australia, and his first T20I against England at Kanpur. In contrast, captains like Virender Sehwag and Ajinkya Rahane won their first matches across all three formats.
Gambhir’s Post-Match Discussions
Following the disappointing defeat, head coach Gautam Gambhir was spotted having intense discussions on the field with captain Gill, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. The animated exchange suggested that the team management was already focused on identifying areas for improvement ahead of the second ODI in Adelaide.
At the post-match presentation, Gill maintained a composed outlook, stating: “When you lose three wickets in the powerplay, you’re always trying to play a catch-up game. A lot of learnings for us from this game and a lot of positives for us as well”. Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned whether Rohit Sharma should continue with his aggressive approach now that he’s no longer captain, emphasizing the need for volume of runs rather than just quality.
India’s Winning Streak Snapped
The defeat ended India’s impressive eight-match winning streak in ODIs in 2025, which began after their Champions Trophy triumph in March. The team returned to the ODI format for the first time since that victory, with Rohit and Kohli making their comeback to international cricket without any competitive match practice for four months. Several other players, including captain Gill, were switching to 50-over cricket after featuring in a Test series just last week, contributing to the team’s lack of rhythm.
India had only three days of training in Australia after featuring in the Asia Cup in the UAE and the Test series against the West Indies, which proved insufficient preparation for the pace and bounce at Optus Stadium. The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23, 2025, where India traditionally performs well and will be eager to level the series.
