The stage is set in Perth as India and Australia gear up for the first ODI of the three-match series starting Sunday, October 19. The spotlight will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who return to international action after nearly seven months, and Shubman Gill, who will lead India for the first time in the format.
Rohit and Kohli Back in Action
The Indian cricket fans are in for a treat as two of the modern greats – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — return to the ODI setup. Both players last featured in the Champions Trophy final in March, and their comeback marks an important phase ahead of the 2027 World Cup preparations.
Rohit, relieved of captaincy duties, will look to play freely at the top alongside Shubman Gill, who has already shown leadership promise in the Test format. Kohli will resume his role at No. 3, a position where he has scored the majority of his 51 ODI centuries.
Young Blood and All-Round Balance
With Hardik Pandya injured and Ravindra Jadeja dropped, India will rely on new-age all-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Both offer flexibility — Reddy with pace and power-hitting, Sundar with spin and control. Coach Gautam Gambhir, known for favoring batting depth, is likely to include both in the XI.
Axar Patel is another key name in the middle order, providing left-hand variety and stability between right-handers.
Bowling Attack and Pitch Report
At the Optus Stadium, conditions are expected to favor fast bowlers early on. The Perth pitch traditionally offers bounce and movement, though the last few ODIs here have been low-scoring. With Jasprit Bumrah rested, Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace unit alongside Arshdeep Singh, while Kuldeep Yadav brings spin variation.
For Australia, Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen are likely to make their ODI debuts, while Mitchell Marsh captains a young side missing key stars.
Probable Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Matt Short, Matt Renshaw, Josh Philippe (WK), Mitch Owen, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
Rain Could Play a Role
Rain is expected on match day, which might bring bowlers more into play. Despite that, with the mix of experience and youth in both camps, fans can expect an exciting start to the India vs Australia ODI series 2025 — a battle that could define the next generation of one-day cricket.
