During the rain break in the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden made a strong statement about former Indian captain Rohit Sharma. The former left-handed batsman said that no one is safe in the Indian team under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Openers Rohit and Shubman Gill struggled to find rhythm in challenging conditions after India were asked to bat first at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19. The Australian pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood took advantage of the conditions and unsettled both the openers early on.
Rohit could only score eight runs in his comeback game, while Gill, who was leading India in ODIs for the first time, was out for 10 as India got into early trouble.
It seems no one is really safe in the Indian system – Matthew Hayden
After being dismissed early in the first powerplay, both players were seen having long discussions in the dressing room, while play was stopped repeatedly due to rain.
Matthew Hayden said that Rohit Sharma remains calm under pressure. Hayden also said that, within the Indian setup, no player’s place is ever guaranteed.
Matthew Hayden said, “He (Rohit) doesn’t seem too fickle. He knows how to handle pressure and go through it for his team. I am curious to see how his career progresses till the World Cup, because he is definitely ready to be a part of that campaign. However, the good thing is that no one is really safe in the Indian setup.”
– Crictalk (@crictalk7) 19 October 2025
Rohit Sharma out for 8 runs in ODI comeback
Rohit Sharma showed early promise on his return to competitive cricket from the 2025 IPL onwards. He was out on the very first ball and hit a four off Mitchell Starc. However, he struggled against Josh Hazlewood’s extra bounce in the fourth over and edged a ball into the slips.
KL Rahul scored 38 runs in 31 balls with the help of two sixes and two fours, as India scored 136 runs for 9 wickets in the rain-affected 26 overs match. Akshar Patel contributed 31 runs off 38 balls, while debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy added 19 not out including two sixes off 11 balls.
Australia’s bowlers dominated the innings, with Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Owen and Matthew Kuhnman taking two wickets each to keep India under pressure.
Ajit Agarkar hinted at future plans by making Shubman Gill the captain.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said it is unfair to question the place of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in 50-over cricket, given their important roles in the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy. He said that the selectors should not assess his performance after every match.
Agarkar also said that the next World Cup is still some time away. Rohit and Kohli will have to maintain their form and fitness to secure their places and if their performance declines, the team will have to take tough decisions.
Shubman Gill was appointed captain, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was selected as the backup opener in the ODI team. The selectors indicated that they are already planning for the future and cannot take Rohit and Kohli’s long-term roles lightly.
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