The upcoming first One-Day International between India and Australia in Perth on Sunday, October 19, 2025, is generating immense excitement. While fans are thrilled about the return of cricketing stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the national squad, the match holds another significant narrative: the debut of young sensation Shubman Gill as India’s full-time ODI captain.
Both Kohli and Rohit are rejoining the national team after their last appearance in the Champions Trophy back in March. In the seven months since, the landscape of Indian cricket has seen considerable evolution. Notably, all-rounder Axar Patel has expressed confidence that Gill will further develop his leadership skills with the guidance of these experienced players.
During their absence from at least two formats of the game, the Indian cricketing setup has adapted and continued to thrive. This raises a crucial question: What impact will these two veteran batters have upon their return?
It’s undeniable that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are among the greatest one-day batters of all time, regardless of how you measure their contributions. Both players have been diligently preparing for this series. Rohit, for instance, appears to have transformed his physique, while Kohli has been intensely training with a personal coach in London.
However, their main challenge will be to shake off any rust after their last competitive outings in the IPL. Perhaps it’s a blessing that their comeback is against Australia, a team that has historically brought out their best performances throughout their illustrious careers. Interestingly, Australian player Travis Head has even voiced his expectation that both Rohit and Kohli will be part of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
This three-match ODI series could serve as a crucial test of their individual motivation and readiness to continue as single-format specialists. While Kohli’s integration might be smoother, Rohit faces the added task of adapting to a new role as solely a senior player, without the captaincy. Rohit’s previous limited-overs appearances culminated in glorious ICC trophy victories as captain, and he even led the Test side in his last outing in Melbourne.
If Kohli can deliver his characteristic composed innings and Rohit unleash his spectacular opening assaults, these two cricketing titans could extend their careers considerably. The renewal of this classic rivalry will be fascinating, as Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood aim to neutralize the formidable “Ro-Ko” duo.
These celebrated cricketers are well aware that their past leadership roles no longer guarantee selection, nor do they have the luxury of time. The current selectors and team management are focused on the future, particularly the 2027 ODI World Cup, and are prepared to make tough decisions. Speaking of squad changes, Marnus Labuschagne has notably replaced Cameron Green in the Australian ODI lineup.
This sentiment was echoed by Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar stated, “Look, they (Rohit and Kohli) are currently part of the squad for Australia. They are not on trial. Once they start playing, we will assess their performance.” He added, “We have some ideas, and we’ll likely gain a clearer understanding of the team’s progression after these matches.”
Shubman Gill’s Captaincy Challenge
Gill is tasked with shaping the team’s future, yet he will always operate under the watchful eyes and immense legacies of Kohli and Rohit. The 26-year-old has already demonstrated his batting prowess, matching Kohli’s high standards during the recent away series against England.
Now, he must emulate Rohit’s exceptional record as a white-ball captain, a legacy highlighted by India’s impressive 75% win ratio under his leadership—the highest in the country’s ODI history. Fair or not, Gill’s captaincy will inevitably be compared to Rohit’s achievements in limited-overs cricket. Facing Mitchell Marsh’s Australian side, even without their ace pacer Pat Cummins, presents a formidable initial challenge.
A successful performance in this series would significantly boost his confidence as a leader, further enhancing his rapidly developing batting game.
Anticipated Team Lineups
The team management is expected to retain the highly successful opening partnership of Rohit and Gill, with Yashasvi Jaiswal as a strong backup option. This setup suggests Kohli will bat at number three, followed by Shreyas Iyer, and then KL Rahul, who will also take on wicketkeeping duties.
With Hardik Pandya sidelined due to injury, Nitish Kumar Reddy is a strong contender for his maiden ODI cap as an all-rounder. For the supporting seamer role, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna will compete, backing up Mohammad Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are likely to handle the spin attack.
Meanwhile, the Australian squad will rely on players like Cooper Connolly, Marnus Labuschagne, and Matthew Renshaw to provide solid support to captain Mitchell Marsh and India’s perennial thorn, Travis Head.
Squads:
India: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc.
The match is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM IST.