India's ODI captain Shubman Gill blamed the top batting order for the team's seven-wicket humiliating defeat against Australia in the first ODI at the Optus Stadium in Perth. After being asked to bat, India failed to get a good start as Josh Hazlewood picked up Rohit Sharma's wicket, who was playing international cricket after a long seven-month gap, in the fourth over when he was batting on eight runs.
Shubman Gill blamed India's top batting order for the defeat
Soon after Rohit's wicket, Kohli, who also donned the India jersey after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in March dismissed on an eight-ball duck. Gill, who was leading India for the first time in ODIs, also lost his wicket cheaply in the ninth over after giving a simple catch to the keeper.
"Never easy, when you lose three wickets in the power play, you're always trying to play catch-up" said Gill in post-match presentation.
Gill picked positives from India's defeat
However, the young batter also picked some positives from India's defeat. Gill lauded the bowlers for taking the game deep while Australia were chasing a mere total of 130 runs in 26 overs. The 26-year-old also praised Indian fans for turning up in huge numbers.
"There were a lot of learnings and positives as well. Defending 130 in 26 odd overs, we took the game pretty deep, so we're satisfied with that. We're very fortunate that wherever we play, fans turn up in huge numbers," added Gill.
India vs Australia 1st ODI
Mitchell Marsh anchored the innings as Australia defeated India by seven wickets in the rain-affected first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After being asked to bat, India managed to score 136 for nine after the contest was reduced to a 26-over-a-side game after rain interrupted proceedings for the third time, with the visitors struggling at 52 for four in 16.4 overs.
After getting a target of 131 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, Australia completed the task in 21.1 overs, with Marsh 46 not out off 52 balls emerging as the top-scorer. Wicketkeeper batter Josh Philippe chipped in with a brisk 29-ball 37 to swing the game Australia's way. Notably, this is India's first defeat since 2023. The Men in Blue's last defeat was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against the same opposition at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.