Australia has opted to bowl first in their one-day international (ODI) match against India at Optus Stadium in Perth. The game, taking place on Sunday, marks the debut for both Matt Renshaw and Mitch Owen in ODI cricket. Following the toss, Australia’s captain Mitch Marsh expressed optimism about the pitch conditions, which featured overcast skies.
Renshaw, who previously debuted in Test cricket in 2016, is set to make his first appearance in the 50-over format, while Owen aims to replicate his success from T20 cricket on the ODI stage. The Australian squad also includes Josh Philippe, filling in as wicketkeeper due to Josh Inglis’s calf injury. Another key inclusion is Matthew Kuhnemann, who is participating in his fifth ODI, as spinner Adam Zampa is absent for personal reasons.
Rain briefly interrupted the proceedings before the match commenced, with forecasts indicating potential showers throughout the day. Marsh noted the conditions following the toss: “It looks like a pretty good Perth Stadium wicket. Hopefully, it’s hard and fast. There’s a little bit of moisture about, so hopefully we can make the most of that today.”
India enters the match with a debut for batting allrounder Nitish Reddy. Indian captain Shubman Gill also commented on the toss decision, stating, “I would have bowled first as well. Looking at the weather, it may be a stop and play game. But it looks like a pretty good surface, so hopefully we get some runs on the board.”
Adding to the Australian team’s challenges, star allrounder Cameron Green has been ruled out of the three-match series due to a minor side injury sustained during training. Selectors are optimistic that Green will return for two upcoming Sheffield Shield matches ahead of the Ashes series, which begins on November 21.
This ODI series may also represent the final international appearances on Australian soil for veteran Indian players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both players have retired from Test and T20 formats, and there is uncertainty regarding their participation until the 2027 ODI World Cup scheduled in Africa.
The line-ups for the match are as follows:
Australia: Mitch Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Matt Short, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
As the match unfolds, both teams are keenly aware of the significance of this series, not only for immediate results but also for their upcoming fixtures on the international cricket calendar.
