India lost by seven wickets against Australia affected by rain 1st ODI The new ODI captain has been appointed at the Optus Stadium in Perth on 19 October. Shubman Gill Under immediate investigation. The match was reduced to 26 overs per side, with the Indian batting lineup dramatically faltered, highlighting the veterans’ brief and disappointing comeback. Rohit Sharma (8) and Virat Kohli (0). India could score only 136/9 runs, and Australia DLS’s revised target of 131 runs was easily achieved in just 21.1 overs. Michelle Marsh46 runs unbeaten.
The comprehensive defeat, which ended India’s eight-match ODI winning streak in 2025, inspired former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif Not on rain or lack of runs, but on Gill’s tactical decision-making, particularly in relation to the bowling attack on his YouTube channel for sharp criticism.
After India’s defeat, Mohammad Kaif pointed out the flaws in Shubman Gill’s captaincy.
Kaif strongly believes that the team selection has exposed a fundamental misunderstanding of the requirements of white-ball cricket, especially with the match being shortened due to rain. Criticism focused heavily on the decision to keep the star wrist-spinner on the bench -Kuldeep YadavThe bowler who took the most wickets for India in the recent Asia Cup, is in favor of increasing the depth of batting through all-rounders. Akshar Patel, washington beautiful and budding Nitish Kumar Reddy,
Kaif argued that this was tantamount to “choosing”.quantity over quality“. The results demonstrated the flaw in this strategy: while the lower orders (KL Rahul 38, Akshar Patel 31) provided some late resistance, the final score was inadequate. In a shorter format like a 26-over contest, defensive containment – the primary role of finger spinners like Akshar and Sundar – is less effective than strike power. India were in dire need of a specialist capable of taking many wickets in quick succession to defend a modest target.
The inadequacies of the attack were exposed during Australia’s chase. Kaif labeled Reddy “not a perfect bowler“And the fast bowler Harshit Rana Gave 27 runs in 4 overs without taking any wicket. Importantly, the Australian spinner Matthew Kuhnman Two wickets were managed to be taken, confirming that the pitch provides support for spin when deployed aggressively.
“There were many part-time bowlers in this team. Nitish Reddy is not a complete bowler. Sundar is also not a complete bowler on such a pitch. Harshit Rana will be disappointed with his bowling. It was the responsibility of the bowlers to win this game. I know it was a low score. But then when will you win the game as a bowler? Will you win with only Bumrah and Shami?” Kaif asked the question.
experts like Ravichandran Ashwin supported Kaif’s stance, noting that Kuldeep, a spinner who thrives on bounce, was a perfect fit for the large boundaries of the Optus Stadium and lamented the harsh selection policy in favor of all-rounders. The management’s focus on batting depth failed to compensate for the collapse of the top order and also compromised the team’s ability to defend low scores by relying on non-specialist bowling options.
Gill’s leadership under investigation in Perth
Kaif prepared the match like this “Gill also tested as captain“One he considered a failure of the young leader. Although Gill blamed the early failure of the top order – India’s score was 25/3 by the ninth over – for putting the team on the back foot, the subsequent deployment of defensive bowling pointed to a systemic lack of aggressive tactical planning.
The pressure on Gill increased due to Kohli’s highly visible on-field presence. Despite relinquishing the captaincy, Kohli was repeatedly seen motivating the bowlers and involving Gill in discussions regarding specific field placements, demonstrating that the senior statesman continues to have tremendous influence over tactical decisions on the field. This dynamic suggests that even though Gill holds the title, the overall strategic direction in high-pressure scenarios remains heavily influenced by established veterans.
The defeat in the first ODI added Gill to the unwanted list of Indian captains who lost their debut match across all formats. This defeat serves as a defining moment for the new leadership era. The central command for Gill and team management will likely be directed by the head coach Gautam GambhirKnown philosophy of prioritizing depth, now balancing strategic planning 2027 world cup With immediate match winning requirements.
