Perth, October 19, 2025 — The India vs Australia 1st ODI 2025 at Optus Stadium began with Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh winning the toss and opting to bowl first under overcast conditions. The match marks several notable debuts and returns as both sides begin a fresh chapter in the 50-over format.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Makes ODI Debut for India
India handed an ODI debut to young allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who received his maiden cap from senior batter Rohit Sharma. Interestingly, Reddy also made his Test debut at the same venue last year during India’s historic victory in Perth.
This fixture is also the first ODI where Shubman Gill leads India as captain, taking charge following the Champions Trophy triumph. Former skippers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the lineup for the first time since the IPL 2025 season.
Gill and Rohit open the innings, with Kohli taking his familiar No. 3 position. India opted for a balanced lineup featuring three allrounders — Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Reddy — meaning Kuldeep Yadav was left out. Arshdeep Singh joins Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana in the pace attack.
Debuts for Renshaw and Owen Boost Australia’s New-Look Squad
Australia, meanwhile, are undergoing a transitional phase in ODI cricket. Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen received their first ODI caps, with Renshaw being presented his by Shaun Marsh and Owen by Tim David. Josh Philippe returns to the one-day setup for the first time since 2021, taking over wicketkeeping duties.
Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann replaces Adam Zampa in the playing XI, while Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Ellis form a potent pace trio. Australia will look to bounce back after a 2-1 ODI series loss to South Africa earlier this year.
Conditions and Crowd Expectations
Light rain in the morning has delayed preparations slightly, with heavier showers forecast later in the day. Optus Stadium’s drop-in pitch remains an unknown factor as it hasn’t hosted a cricket match since last summer.
Over 40,000 fans are expected to fill the stands at the 45,000-capacity setup for this high-profile clash. Australia have yet to win an ODI at this venue, while India are playing their first-ever 50-over game in Perth.
Playing XIs
Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Matthew Short, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (capt), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
