Table of Contents
- Match Summary
- India’s Collapse Batting First
- Australia’s Clinical Chase
- Bowling Letdown for India
- What This Means for the Series
- Sources
IND vs AUS: A Rain-Shortened Reality Check
The first ODI between India and Australia in the 2025 bilateral series turned into a sobering reality check for the hosts. Reduced to 26 overs per side due to rain, the match at the Wankhede Stadium ended in a seven-wicket victory for Australia, who chased down the DLS-adjusted target of 131 with ease.
For Indian fans hoping for a strong comeback from veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the evening offered little comfort. Both stars returned to the ODI setup after a break—but their stays at the crease were painfully brief.
India’s Collapse Batting First
Batting first under cloudy Mumbai skies, India never found rhythm. The top order crumbled early, and the middle order failed to stabilize. The scoreboard read a dismal 136 for 9 at the end of 26 overs.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, was dismissed for just 8 runs off 14 balls—caught behind off Josh Hazlewood. Virat Kohli, returning to ODIs after a gap, managed only 12 before edging Pat Cummins to slip. Their exits triggered a familiar slide, with only Shubman Gill (32) offering brief resistance.
India’s Top Scorers:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 32 | 41 |
| KL Rahul | 24 | 30 |
| Hardik Pandya | 19 | 22 |
Australia’s Clinical Chase
Chasing 131 under DLS, Australia never looked troubled. Openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh laid a solid foundation, and even after Head’s early departure (18), Marsh anchored the innings with composure.
Mitchell Marsh remained unbeaten on 46 off 52 balls, mixing caution with calculated aggression. He was well-supported by Marnus Labuschagne (28*) as Australia reached the target in 23.1 overs, losing just three wickets.
Bowling Letdown for India
India’s pace attack—often a strength—struggled to contain the Australian batters. Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless in his 5 overs, conceding 28 runs. Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets but was expensive (0/34 in 4 overs before his wickets came late). Kuldeep Yadav provided the only breakthrough in the middle overs, but by then, the momentum had shifted.
Fielding lapses didn’t help either. A couple of missed run-out chances and misfields in the outfield gave Australia extra breathing room.
What This Means for the Series
With Australia taking a 1-0 lead, pressure mounts on India ahead of the second ODI in Visakhapatnam. Questions will be asked about the reliance on aging stars and the lack of depth in the batting lineup. Meanwhile, Australia’s blend of experience and composure under pressure once again proved decisive.
As the series shifts to the east coast, India must regroup quickly—or risk falling behind in a contest that’s shaping up to be more one-sided than anticipated.
Sources
Times of India: IND vs AUS – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma flop; Australia take 1st ODI