India vs Australia 1st ODI: Predicted Playing XIs and Squad Analysis

Strategic Insights -

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill will take charge for India in the upcoming ODI series against Australia, starting with the first match in Perth on Sunday. Although Rohit and Kohli have been out of international cricket since the Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025, they are expected to be a shoo-in for the Indian playing XI. The Indian top five in the batting order appears set, with Rohit and Gill opening, Kohli at no 3, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer at no 4, and KL Rahul as wicketkeeper-batter at no 5.

Key Takeaways:

  • India's probable XI for the 1st ODI includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.
  • Australia's probable XI includes Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Matt Renshaw, Matt Short, Josh Philippe (wk), Mitch Owen, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, and Josh Hazlewood.
  • Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be playing their first international match after the Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025.
  • India's top five in the batting order appears set, with Rohit and Gill opening, Kohli at no 3, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer at no 4, and KL Rahul as wicketkeeper-batter at no 5.
  • Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to be part of the playing XI and may come in at number six or seven.
  • Australia will not be going for an all-out pace attack, which means Matt Kuhnemann, the left-arm spinner, could play his first ODI on home soil.
  • Matt Renshaw and Mitch Owen will make their ODI debuts.

Statistics:

  • India's top five batsmen in the ODI series will likely be: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul.
  • Australia's probable all-rounders for the 1st ODI are: Mitchell Marsh, Matt Short, and Cooper Connolly.
  • Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are among the notable fast bowlers for Australia.
  • Mitchell Marsh stated that Australia won't be going for an all-out pace attack in the ODI series.

Sources:

  • The Indian Express (2025) - "India vs Australia 1st ODI Match Playing 11, Full Squad: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill taking charge were the big talking points going into India's ODI series in Australia..."
  • The Indian Express (2025) - "India probable XI vs Australia: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh"
  • The Indian Express (2025) - "Australia Probable XI vs India: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Matt Short, Matt Renshaw, Josh Philippe (WK), Mitch Owen, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood"