Srinagar: Australia cruised to a commanding seven-wicket win over India in the rain-marred opening ODI of the three-match series at the Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Persistent showers reduced the game to 26 overs per side, and India faltered with the bat, managing just 136 for 9. Australia chased down a revised DLS target of 131 with 4.5 overs to spare, taking a 1–0 lead in the series.
India’s innings never gathered momentum after early jolts. Skipper Rohit Sharma (8 off 14) was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over, and the big blow came soon after when Virat Kohli fell for a duck, edging Mitchell Starc to Cooper Connolly at backward point.
Debutant ODI captain Shubman Gill (10 off 18) and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer (4) also failed to make an impact, leaving India reeling at 45 for 4 in the 14th over.
KL Rahul top-scored with 38 from 31 balls, while Axar Patel provided some resistance with 31 off 38, adding 39 runs for the fifth wicket. However, after their dismissals, the lower order collapsed quickly, with Nitish Kumar Reddy (19 not out off 11) offering a late flourish that lifted India past 130.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Owen, and Matthew Kuhnemann picked up two wickets apiece, while Starc claimed one.
In reply, Australia’s chase began shakily as Travis Head fell early for 8, bowled by Arshdeep Singh. But Mitchell Marsh anchored the innings with an unbeaten 46 off 52 balls, supported by Josh Philippe (37 off 29) and Matt Renshaw (21 not out off 24).
Despite losing a few wickets, the hosts cruised to victory comfortably in the 22nd over, sealing a clinical performance to start the series.
