The first ODI in Perth produced plenty of fireworks, but in typical fashion, India did themselves no favours going down due to an extreme case of a topsy-turvy middle-order collapse and missed chances. Chasing a DLS adjusted total of 131 from 26 overs, India got themselves off to a sunny start with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill at the crease from the outset. The sunny outlook lasted all of ten overs as the rest of the top order folded like a pack of cards, even after the best intentions of Hazlewood and Starc were employed. KL Rahul and Axar Patel were doing their best to make repairs to the innings when fully in the face of their uphill struggle, which was not to be. Here are three reasons why India found their chase had gone awry.
Top-Order Collapse
At the end of the 10th over, India’s famed trio of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli had 131, which turned out to be more of a psychological struggle. Even the seasoned KL Rahul and Axar Patel could only delay the inevitable setback for the duration of their brief innings. They had 31′ runs respectively. When the footing has been lost so early in the innings, the middle and lower order batsmen have to play catch-up, and in this instance, India were not able to recover from this early blasting in this match. The batting collapse was not only a matter of the runs but of the manner in which all the batsmen went about their business of batting.
Mitchell Marsh and Philippe’s Counterattack
Australia’s innings, so ably anchored by Mitchell Marsh (46 off 52), was slow but emphatic. Marsh’s ability to keep rotating the strike and punish the loose ball kept the chase calm. Josh Philippe’s 37 off 29 gave the needed bite to the Indian attack. Even when wickets fell, to bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Washington Sundar, Australia never lost control. This new wicket became an easy chase, with seven wickets in hand and almost five overs to spare. When opposing players rise to this level, mistakes become conspicuous, and here India paid the penalty.
Inability to Adapt and Fielding Lapses
Perth required tactical flexibility, particularly with tactical overs adjusted under DLS, but India stuck to a textbook strategy instead of reacting to experience. Attempts to raise the rate frequently resulted in ill-timed shots rather than well-calculated aggression. The fielding, usually a strength, faltered at a critical juncture, as dropped opportunities and lack of alacrity in the field precluded India’s effort for the buildup of pressure. Small lapses of execution, combined with a poor grasp of the situations of the match, meant Australia was able to chase the runs easily, emphasising the failure to combine strategy with situational awareness.
India learned a harsh lesson about the unforgiving nature of Australian conditions in the match in Perth after they collapsed in the top order to counterattacking combinations of Marsh and Philippe, who seized the opportunity and left it too late for the visitors to adapt and recover, and secured a comfortable victory.
FAQs
1: Why did India lose the 1st ODI to Australia?
India’s top-order collapse, combined with opposition counterattacks and situational misreads, cost them the match.
2: Who was the standout performer for Australia?
Mitchell Marsh, with an unbeaten 46, anchored the chase and earned Player of the Match.
3: Did fielding errors affect India’s performance?
Yes, minor lapses in the field and missed chances magnified India’s struggle under the DLS-adjusted target.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
ILT20 2025: Predicting Dubai Capitals XI for match 13
IPL 2026 Auction: 3 teams that could trigger bidding war for Rachin Ravindra
ILT20 2025: Predicting Abu Dhabi Knight Riders XI for match 13
Top 3 performances of Corey Anderson in cricket
