Team India achieved an unwanted record during the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19. India’s batsmen, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli scored the lowest number of runs for the top three in an ODI match since the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl. The hosts gave their ODI debuts to Matthew Renshaw and Mitchell Owen. India, on the other hand, went in with an inexperienced pace attack comprising Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh as Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the series.
India’s top order collapsed, leading to a poor start for the team
India had a very poor start and their top order collapsed early. Josh Hazlewood shocked Rohit Sharma in the fourth over, who scored just eight runs in 14 balls. Virat Kohli was out on duck to Mitchell Starc, who took his first wicket in the match.
Shubman Gill, playing his first match as ODI captain, also struggled with the bat and was out after scoring 10 runs in 18 balls. India were reduced to 25/3 in 8.1 overs, leaving the team in a delicate position.
Till the time of writing the news, India’s score was 37/3 after 11.5 overs, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer (6) and Axar Patel (7) were at the crease, the play was stopped due to rain. Rohit and Kohli were playing for India for the first time in almost seven months.
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli achieved an unwanted ODI record
India’s top three batsmen, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, managed to score just 18 runs combined in today’s ODI against Australia. Notably, this was their lowest total at the top of the order in a men’s ODI since the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
The 18 runs today between Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli is the lowest total by India’s top three in men’s ODIs since the 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/cCl0KqWrZg
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 19 October 2025
Virat recorded his first ODI duck in Australia, his third scoreless outing against the Australian team and the 39th wicket of his international career. Among Indian players, only Zaheer Khan (43) and Ishant Sharma (40) have made more records than this.
Mitchell Starc became the second bowler after James Anderson to dismiss Kohli for ducks twice in international cricket. Meanwhile, after losing their first three wickets including Rohit, Kohli and Gill, India’s total is 25 runs, which is the lowest score ever by this top-order trio in ODIs.
Pressure on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli to perform well in Australia series
Ahead of the ongoing first ODI, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were last seen in international cricket during the 2025 Champions Trophy win. Before the ongoing series in Australia, Shubman Gill has been made the captain in place of Rohit.
With their places for the 2027 ODI World Cup not guaranteed, Rohit and Kohli will face intense pressure to capitalize on the opportunities available to them. He had a poor start in the first ODI, which has intensified the scrutiny on his future.
The batting pair will have to score consistently to secure a spot in the upcoming 50-over tournament. His performance in Perth fell short of expectations and it will be interesting to see his approach in the next two matches.
Also read: “One step closer to retirement” – Twitter reacts to Rohit Sharma’s flop show
