India’s flawless ODI streak of 2025 came to an abrupt end as Australia claimed a seven-wicket victory in a rain-curtailed opener at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh’s unbeaten 46 guided the hosts past the reduced target, handing India their first defeat in the format this year.
Rain interruptions, four in total, hampered India’s chase from the outset, reducing the contest to a 26-over affair. After Australia’s target was revised from 136/9 to 131 under the DLS method, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh jolted the home side by removing Travis Head early, but Marsh counter-attacked with three consecutive sixes, asserting control over the innings.
A crucial 55-run partnership between Josh Philippe (37) and Marsh paved the way for Australia to comfortably close in on the target. Philippe adopted the aggressor role, thumping boundaries and a six before being dismissed by Arshdeep. Marsh then remained composed to see Australia home, finishing unbeaten as his side secured the lead.
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India’s innings had begun poorly, with top-order failures from Rohit Sharma (8), Shubman Gill (10), Virat Kohli (0), and Shreyas Iyer (11) leaving the team reeling at 45/4. KL Rahul (38) and Axar Patel (31) stitched together a 39-run stand to stabilise proceedings, while a late blitz by debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (19*) helped India reach 136/9 in 26 overs.
Australia’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Josh Hazlewood (2/20), alongside Kuhnemann, Owen, Starc, and Ellis, exploited the Indian top-order vulnerabilities. Despite KL Rahul’s energetic innings featuring two fours and two sixes, India could not recover from early setbacks compounded by erratic weather conditions.
“The match was tricky with rain interruptions, but Australia kept their composure and executed well,” an analyst commented, highlighting the hosts’ measured approach in the chase.
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