India’s much-anticipated ODI clash against Australia in Perth on Sunday, October 19, ended on a sour note for fans, as senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to make meaningful contributions in their return to international cricket. Both players were making their first appearance since March, but neither could settle in against a disciplined Australian bowling attack.
Rohit Sharma Falls Early After ODI Captaincy Snub
Opening the innings alongside new captain Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma walked out to bat after Australia opted to bowl first in overcast conditions. The 38-year-old, recently relieved of ODI captaincy duties, lasted just 14 deliveries. He scored only 8 runs before being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over.
Hazlewood bowled a trademark hard-length delivery that caught Rohit’s outside edge, and the ball flew straight to the second slip. It was a soft dismissal, and a frustrating start to Rohit’s return to the ODI setup.
Kohli Records Rare Duck in Perth Clash
Virat Kohli, batting at No. 3, fared even worse. Making a comeback to the Indian lineup after months away and now residing in London, Kohli couldn’t open his account. He faced eight balls without scoring and was dismissed for a duck while attempting an ambitious drive off Mitchell Starc.
Kohli’s edge was safely collected at backward point, giving Starc his second career dismissal of Kohli for a duck across all formats — a feat previously achieved only by James Anderson.
The duck was also significant in statistical terms: it was Kohli’s first in 30 ODI innings played in Australia and his second-slowest duck in ODI history, the slowest being a nine-ball duck against England in Lucknow during the 2023 World Cup. Overall, Kohli has now registered five five-ball ducks in ODIs.
India’s Top Order Crumbles Under Pressure
Shubman Gill, leading India for the first time in ODIs, also failed to deliver with the bat. The young skipper scored just 10 off 18 balls before becoming the third Indian wicket to fall. As a result, India found themselves in deep trouble at 25 for 3 inside the first 10 overs.
Combined, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli managed only 18 runs — making it India’s lowest combined total from their top three batters in an ODI since the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, when Rohit, KL Rahul, and Kohli contributed just 3 runs.
Final Thoughts
India’s top-order collapse in Perth has raised concerns ahead of the remaining matches in the series. With both senior stars returning from extended breaks, the team will hope they find form quickly to stabilize the batting lineup. Meanwhile, Australia will take confidence from their disciplined bowling performance, especially under testing conditions.
