4 takeaways for Shubman Gill & Gautam Gambhir from India vs Australia 1st ODI

Team India were playing their first ODI in seven months. Perth was hosting the match, which is one of the fastest and bounciest tracks in the world. The two stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, hadn’t played a competitive match since June. But all of this wasn’t the problem. It was the rain.

Although India was 25/3, they have plenty of time to crawl back into the game. Rain derailed those plans. Although KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Nitish Kumar Reddy led the comeback, it was just too much to do in too little time. But there were a few issues that Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir will have to solve for the Adelaide match.

4 takeaways for India from 1st Australia ODI

Selection ft. Kuldeep Yadav

Gambhir’s preference for all-rounders was apparent. Kuldeep Yadav, who was India’s best bowler in the Asia Cup and the India vs West Indies Test series, wasn’t picked. Instead, Axar, Nitish, and Washington Sundar played. One can understand that the management thought that spin wouldn’t be the biggest threat in Perth, but Matthew Kuhnemann ended up as one of the best for Australia.

Without Kuldeep and in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India don’t have the wicket-takers in the middle order. Perhaps in Adelaide, where spinners might come into the game, they bring Kuldeep in. But after the new ball, you need bowlers like him in the side.

Expectations from Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli

The senior pros didn’t look at their best in Perth. They were in great touch at the Champions Trophy, but that was seven months ago. The management have to understand that they might need some time to get into their groove. Perhaps they’ll be better on a slightly easier pitch. They might come good, but if they are rusty, that’s expected.

Shreyas Iyer’s short-ball weakness

During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, it seemed like Shreyas Iyer had overcome the short-ball weakness. But in Perth, on one of the bounciest and fastest tracks, Josh Hazlewood got the better of him. Now, the Aussie quick has troubled Shreyas in the past, but getting strangled down leg on a short ball made it look like the 30-year-old perhaps still has some work to do.

Nitish Reddy impresses

Nitish showed that he can play the fast-bowling all-rounder role. Although his bowling isn’t at Hardik Pandya’s level, his batting is on par or perhaps even better. His little cameo in the end was great, but also showed how Gambhir and Gill have been underutilising him. Axar and Washington are great batters, but surely not at the same level as Nitish, who at this point is playing as a batting all-rounder. Playing him at number eight doesn’t really make sense.

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