Perth, October 19 (Udaipur Kiran): Indian batters failed to deliver in the rain-affected first ODI against Australia at Perth on Saturday, managing just 136 runs for 9 wickets in 26 overs. Due to multiple rain interruptions, the match was reduced to 26 overs per side, and under the Duckworth-Lewis method, Australia have been set a target of 131 runs to win.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, India had a disastrous start. Captain Rohit Sharma, playing his 500th international match, was dismissed early for just 8 runs with the team’s total at 13. Expectations were high from Virat Kohli, making a comeback to the side, but he failed to score, departing without troubling the scoreboard. Shubman Gill also fell cheaply for 10 runs.
Rain interruptions further affected the flow of play, and India soon found themselves struggling at 45 for 4. Axar Patel and K.L. Rahul attempted to steady the innings with a 39-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Axar scored 31 off 38 balls, while Rahul contributed 38 runs. Debutant Nitish Reddy remained unbeaten on 19 runs.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Owen, and Matthew Kuhnemann picked up two wickets each, while Mitchell Starc and Nathan Ellis claimed one wicket apiece.
Both teams entered the series opener aiming for an early lead. The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on October 23, followed by the final match in Sydney on October 25. The ODI series will be followed by a five-match T20 series between October 29 and November 8.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
