Former Team India captain Rohit Sharma`s much-awaited return to international cricket was cut short, as he was dismissed for just eight runs by Australia`s star pacer Josh Hazlewood in the first ODI match at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
He edged the ball into the second slip, which landed in the hands of the Australian debutant Matthew Renshaw. Facing 14 deliveries, he returned to the pavilion after smashing just one boundary.
Additionally, it was Indian`s first appearance in international cricket since the Champions Trophy 2025 triumph on March 9 in Dubai.
After the Champions Trophy final, Rohit competed in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which concluded in June and since then has been out of action for months. Additionally, he was replaced by Shubman Gill for the captaincy role in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for the “Men in Blue”.
The match also marked Rohit`s 500th appearance for Team India in international cricket. Before him, only legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rahul Dravid have managed to touch the feat.
So far, in 500 matches for the “Men in Blue”, Rohit has amassed 19,708 runs with an average of 42.11. He also has 49 centuries and 108 half-centuries, with a career best score of 264 runs.
While in ODIs in 274 matches, he has scored 11,176 runs at an average of 48.59 and a strike rate of 92.76, with 32 centuries and 58 fifties and a best score of 264.
Earlier in the match, Australia had won the toss and opted to bowl first against India in the first ODI in Perth on Sunday at the Optus Stadium. The series will be important for the Nagpur-born cricketer in order to keep his place secured in India`s ODI set-up ahead of the global showpiece in 2027.
IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Confirmed Playing XI
India`s confirmed playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Australia`s confirmed playing XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Matthew Short, Josh Philippe(w), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
(With ANI Inputs)