Australia ended India’s unbeaten ODI run in 2025 with a commanding seven-wicket win in a rain-curtailed contest at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday. The home side, led by stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh, took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after comfortably chasing down a revised target under the DLS method.
Persistent rain halted play four times during the match, disrupting momentum for both sides, but Australia managed the interruptions far better to seal their first ODI win of the year.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Australia’s pace attack made early inroads into the Indian batting order. Josh Hazlewood struck first, removing Rohit Sharma for eight, before Mitchell Starc and debutant Mitchell Owen dismantled the top order.
India’s struggles deepened when Virat Kohli was dismissed for a rare duck — his first in an ODI in Australia after 30 innings — and captain Shubman Gill was caught behind for 10. By the time the first rain delay arrived, India were tottering at 25 for three. Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel attempted to rebuild, but regular rain interruptions and disciplined Australian bowling kept the visitors in check.
KL Rahul provided some resistance with a brisk 38 from 31 balls, while Axar Patel added a patient 31 off 38 deliveries. Their 39-run partnership offered temporary stability before both fell to spin and pace in quick succession. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s late cameo of 19 not out, featuring two sixes in the final over, pushed India to 136 for nine in 26 overs. Hazlewood finished with excellent figures of two for 20, while Owen and Matthew Kuhnemann also picked up two wickets each, ensuring India never recovered from their slow start.
Australia’s chase began nervously when Arshdeep Singh removed Travis Head early for eight, but from there, the hosts took complete control. Mitchell Marsh led from the front with an unbeaten 46, striking three towering sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Josh Philippe, returning to the ODI side after four years, supported him well with a fluent 37 before falling to Washington Sundar. The pair’s 55-run stand all but sealed the contest, and Matt Renshaw’s quick 21 not out saw Australia reach 131 for three in just 21.1 overs, winning by the DLS method.
The defeat marked India’s first loss in ODIs this year, ending their impressive streak of eight consecutive wins. The top-order failure highlighted the team’s ongoing challenge of adapting quickly to Australian conditions, where extra bounce and pace expose technical flaws. Frequent weather interruptions further unsettled the visiting side, making their batting effort appear disjointed. For Australia, the result showcased depth and composure, with both senior players and returning faces performing seamlessly despite the disruptions.
With the victory, Australia gained early momentum in the three-match series, while India will need to regroup quickly ahead of the next ODI in Adelaide on October 23. The visitors will be hoping for a stronger showing from their top order and more adaptability under changing conditions.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh’s confident leadership and Australia’s disciplined execution with both bat and ball have set the tone for what promises to be an intriguing series between two of the world’s top cricketing sides.
India: 136/9 in 26 overs (KL Rahul 38, Axar Patel 31, Josh Hazlewood 2/20) vs Australia 131/3 (Mitchell Marsh 46*, Josh Philippe 37; Axar Patel 1-19).
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