India vs Australia 1st ODI: Shubman Gill’s Surprise Playing XI Stuns Fans as India Continue Unwanted Record

Cricket fever gripped Perth on Sunday as India locked horns with Australia in the opening ODI of the three-match series. In a surprising turn of events, India’s young skipper Shubman Gill unveiled a bold playing XI that left many fans talking. While the much-awaited return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli thrilled Indian supporters, the omission of spinner Kuldeep Yadav and inclusion of debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy grabbed headlines ahead of the toss. Adding to the drama, India’s coin curse continued, as Gill lost his 16th consecutive ODI toss, a record stretching back to the 2023 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh opted to field first after winning the toss, citing overcast conditions and moisture on the Optus Stadium pitch. “It’s a pretty good wicket with a bit of moisture; hopefully, our bowlers can make the most of it,” said Marsh, visibly upbeat about starting the series strong at home. For the Aussies, Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen received their maiden ODI caps, presented by Shaun Marsh and Tim David respectively. The match also marked a milestone moment for Rohit Sharma, who became only the fifth Indian cricketer to feature in 500 international matches, joining the elite company of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rahul Dravid.

Gill’s decision to go with three fast bowlers — Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana — while benching star spinner Kuldeep Yadav surprised many. It was a strategic gamble, considering Perth’s fast and bouncy pitch. Gill explained at the toss, “We would have bowled first as well. Nitish Reddy makes his debut today. We’re going with three fast bowlers and three all-rounders. The team looks balanced.” His confidence reflects India’s focus on nurturing fresh talent while maintaining balance with experience. Reddy, who earned his maiden ODI cap from Rohit Sharma, adds versatility as a hard-hitting all-rounder with prior Test experience at this very venue.

Australia, on the other hand, fielded a transitional side in the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Glenn Maxwell, all of whom have either been rested or retired from ODIs. Despite that, the hosts maintained a competitive edge with power hitters like Travis Head and Josh Philippe up the order, supported by a strong pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Interestingly, Australia have never lost an ODI series opener at home since 2018, while India have never played a 50-over match at Perth’s Optus Stadium — making this clash a fresh test for both sides.

The spotlight, however, remains on Rohit and Kohli, marking their first international appearance since March. Kohli, refreshed after a long family break, looked motivated ahead of the match, saying, “I’ve had some quality time with my family; I’m feeling fresh, fit, and moving well.” The veteran batter also eyes a major milestone — just 68 runs away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-getter in limited-overs cricket history. If achieved, it will add another golden feather to Kohli’s illustrious career.

As rain clouds hover over Perth, both sides will need to adapt swiftly to conditions. The crowd of over 40,000 fans inside the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium is already buzzing with energy, witnessing the rebirth of India’s legendary Ro-Ko duo and the dawn of a new era under Shubman Gill’s leadership. For India, this match isn’t just about the series opener — it’s about blending legacy with youthful ambition, proving that the Men in Blue can transition smoothly without losing their winning spirit.

India vs Australia LIVE: Virat Kohli on the Brink of Surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s White-Ball Record

As the India-Australia match progresses, all eyes are on Virat Kohli, who is on the verge of rewriting cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar remains the top run-scorer in limited-overs cricket, with 18,426 runs in ODIs and 10 runs in his sole T20I appearance, for a total of 18,436 runs.

Kohli has scored 14,181 runs in ODIs and 4,188 runs in T20Is, totalling 18,369 runs across white ball formats. He now needs just 68 runs to break Tendulkar's record total and become the top run-getter in limited-overs cricket, marking yet another significant milestone in his long career.

Meanwhile, in the present One-Day International series against Australia, Kohli is closing in on another historic achievement. He is currently ranked third all-time in ODI runs, trailing only Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara by 54 runs. Kohli has 14,181 runs in 302 ODIs; a successful performance might see him surpass Sangakkara's tally of 14,234 runs from 404 matches, making him the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history. Cricket fans around the world are waiting to see if the Indian master can attain these two milestones versus Australia.

Sources: The Hindu, ESPN Cricinfo, News18 Cricket, Rajasthan Patrika, Dainik Bhaskar, Times of India, Hindustan Times

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general news and sports coverage purposes only. Player details, match data, and statistics are sourced from verified media outlets and official cricket boards. For real-time match updates, refer to live broadcasts or official streaming platforms.