The opening match of the India in Australia 3 ODI Series 2025 at Perth Stadium was a dramatic, rain-interrupted affair, with India posting a modest 136/9 in 26 overs, setting a 131-run target for Australia under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Persistent rain and stellar Australian bowling made it a challenging day for the Indian batters, but KL Rahul’s gritty knock and a late cameo from Nitish Kumar Reddy kept India in the fight. Here’s a detailed summary of India’s innings in this thrilling encounter.india innings
A Rain-Shortened Battle: India’s Innings Overview
With the match reduced to 26 overs per side due to multiple rain delays, India, batting first, faced a tough task against Australia’s disciplined bowling attack. The Indian top order struggled to find rhythm on a lively Perth pitch, where swing and seam movement tested their resolve. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, contributions from KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and a few others ensured India reached a competitive total under the circumstances.
Key Performances in India’s Batting Line-Up
- KL Rahul (38 runs off 31 balls): The Indian vice-captain anchored the innings with a composed 38, showcasing his trademark elegance. Rahul’s ability to rotate the strike and find occasional boundaries kept India’s hopes alive during the middle overs. His dismissal, however, triggered a mini-collapse, leaving India at 121/7.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (19 runs off 11 balls): The young all-rounder provided a late spark, smashing two massive sixes in a quickfire 19. His aggressive approach in the final overs added crucial runs to India’s total, giving the bowlers something to defend.
- Other Contributions: The rest of the batting line-up struggled against Australia’s pace battery. Early wickets of key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli put India on the back foot, with the score reading 45/4 at one stage. Middle-order batters like Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar failed to convert their starts, falling to disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
Australia’s Bowling Dominance
Australia’s bowlers made full use of the seaming conditions, with their pacers setting the tone early. The home side’s attack was clinical, blending experience with fresh talent. Led by the pace duo of Starc and Hazlewood, who striked early, while debutant Mitchell Owen marked his ODI bow with 2 scalps. Nathan Ellis and Matthew Kuhnemann kept things tight in the middle, conceding few boundaries
Rain’s Relentless Interference and DLS Twist
Four rain delays turned the match into a stop-start affair, with overs reduced progressively from 50 to 26. The final interruption came mid-innings, but play resumed just in time for Reddy’s fireworks. Post-innings, DLS calculations set Australia’s par score at 131, factoring in the curtailed overs and resources remaining. With the outfield heavy and the ball still nipping, this target could prove tricky under lights.
