Perth, October 19, 2025: A new chapter in Indian cricket begins today as Shubman Gill walks out for his first match as ODI captain in the series opener against Australia at a gloomy Optus Stadium. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy also marks a career milestone, making his 50-over debut for India.
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to field first, hoping to take advantage of the overcast conditions and a drop-in pitch that has not been used since last summer.
New Leadership and Key Returns for India
The match marks India’s first ODI engagement since their triumphant Champions Trophy campaign. The team is significantly bolstered by the return of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are playing their first international match since the IPL. Gill will open the batting alongside his predecessor Rohit, with Kohli set to anchor the innings at his customary No. 3 position.
For Nitish Kumar Reddy, the Optus Stadium is a familiar ground for debuts; he also earned his maiden Test cap at this very venue last year. He has been named in the playing XI as one of three all-rounders at No. 8. In a notable selection choice, Washington Sundar has been preferred over wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Australia’s Transition Phase Continues
Australia enters the series in a state of transition, aiming to bounce back from a recent 2-1 series loss to South Africa. The team is blooding new talent, with batters Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen making their ODI debuts. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe also makes a return to the side for the first time since 2021.
Despite pace-friendly expectations, Australia has included left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who is covering for an unavailable Adam Zampa. The home side will be looking to break a losing streak at this venue, having lost all three of their previous ODIs here.
Pitch and Conditions
With light rain already reported and heavier showers expected later, the match could be significantly affected by the weather. The unused drop-in surface adds another layer of unpredictability. Over 40,000 spectators are expected to witness the contest as India plays its first-ever 50-over match at this stadium.
Australia: 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Matthew Short, 4 Josh Philippe (wk), 5 Matt Renshaw, 6 Cooper Connolly, 7 Mitchell Owen, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Matt Kuhnemann, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
India: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Axar Patel, 6 KL Rahul (wk), 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Siraj.
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