Perth, October 19, 2025 – Australia kicked off their ODI series against India in commanding fashion, securing a seven-wicket victory in a rain-hit opening match at Perth Stadium. Despite the return of Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both struggled to make an impact, falling cheaply as Mitchell Marsh guided the hosts to a confident win.

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Marsh Leads from the Front in Australia’s Commanding Win

Australia’s stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh once again proved his consistency with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 46 off 40 balls to lead his side to a seven-wicket triumph. Chasing a revised target of 131 in 26 overs due to multiple rain delays, the Aussies reached the total comfortably in 21.1 overs.

Man-of-the-match Marsh, deputizing for Pat Cummins (sidelined with a back injury), smashed three sixes and two boundaries, extending his rich vein of form from recent series against South Africa and New Zealand. He received solid support from Josh Philippe, who scored an attacking 37 off 32 deliveries on his ODI comeback, and Matt Renshaw, who remained 21 not out at the finish line.

“We just wanted to stay positive and keep the scoreboard moving. The bowlers set the tone early, and that made my job easier,” said Marsh after the win.

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Indian Batting Crumbles Under Pressure

India’s return to ODI cricket with senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli was met with disappointment as both fell early in the innings. After being put into bat first, India could only manage 136 for 9 in 26 overs before rain forced a reduction in overs.

• Rohit Sharma (8) edged Josh Hazlewood to second slip.
• Virat Kohli (0) cut Mitchell Starc straight to Cooper Connolly at backward point, marking a disappointing return to international action.

India’s new captain Shubman Gill also struggled, scoring just 10 before edging Nathan Ellis to wicketkeeper Philippe, leaving India in deep trouble at 37-3.

Spinner Matthew Kuhnemann (2-26) and medium-pacer Mitch Owen (1-24) maintained relentless pressure, denying India any momentum. Only KL Rahul (38) and Axar Patel (31) offered brief resistance, putting up a 42-run stand before both fell in quick succession.

“Getting wickets early was crucial,” said Kuhnemann. “Their top order is world-class, so breaking through gave us a huge advantage.”

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India’s Bowling Effort Falls Short

Defending a modest total was always going to be a challenge, and despite early efforts from Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar—each picking up one wicket—India couldn’t prevent Australia’s aggressive batting lineup from cruising to victory.

Marsh’s power-hitting neutralized India’s attack, while Philippe’s fluent strokeplay ensured there were no major stumbles in the chase. The Australian skipper sealed the win with a six over midwicket, drawing loud cheers from the 42,000-strong Perth crowd.

“We knew we didn’t have enough runs on the board, but we tried to stay positive,” said Arshdeep. “We’ll regroup for the next game.”

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Series Outlook: India Must Bounce Back

The three-match ODI series now moves to Adelaide on Thursday, followed by the final clash in Sydney on Saturday. With Australia 1–0 up, India will need to regroup quickly and rediscover their form if they hope to level the series.

Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli respond after underwhelming returns to the 50-over format. Both veterans had announced earlier this year that they were focusing exclusively on ODIs to prepare for the 2027 World Cup, adding extra weight to their comeback.

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Key Match Highlights

• Australia won by 7 wickets (DLS method)
• India 136/9 (26 overs) | KL Rahul 38, Axar Patel 31
• Australia 131/3 (21.1 overs) | Mitchell Marsh 46, Josh Philippe 37*
• Best Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood (3/28), Matthew Kuhnemann (2/26), Arshdeep Singh (1/22)
• Player of the Match: Mitchell Marsh (AUS)