Before a ball was bowled in the first ODI match at Perth on Sunday, Virat Kohli made a meaningful gesture by asking captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer to lead the team and stand first in the line. Kohli, who was returning to ODIs for the first time since lifting the Champions Trophy on March 9 in Dubai, appeared in high spirits throughout the pre-match build-up. He was seen chatting animatedly with teammates, sharing laughs, and setting a lighthearted tone in the dressing room.

The series opener had been highly anticipated, with fans eager to see India’s two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both having retired from T20Is and Tests, reunite in blue after months on the sidelines. Though the return did not yield the results many hoped for. Kohli was dismissed for a duck, caught brilliantly at point by Australia’s spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. Starc thus became only the second bowler, after James Anderson, to dismiss Kohli for a duck twice across all formats.

Earlier in the innings, Rohit Sharma’s comeback was also brief. Playing his 500th international match for India, Rohit was sent back for eight runs after edging a Josh Hazlewood delivery to second slip, where debutant Matthew Renshaw held on to a sharp catch. The match which was marred by rain interruptions, saw over being reduced. In 26 overs, India managed 136/9.

Australia’s target was reduced to 131 runs which they chased down with 7 wickets to spare. Skipper Mitchell Marsh top scored with unbeaten 46 runs. India will now shift focus to the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, aiming to bounce back and level the series after a tough start in Perth.

New Delhi, Oct 17: As India gears up for the high-voltage ODI series against Australia, the spotlight inevitably falls on two modern greats — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The duo, who have defined an era of Indian cricket, were seen training intensely in Perth, looking as sharp and motivated as ever. But amid the excitement, a cloud of uncertainty looms large – is this the last dance for India’s iconic pair?

Both Rohit and Virat have served Indian cricket with unmatched consistency and leadership. Yet, with a generational shift underway and the rise of new stars under young skipper Shubman Gill, speculation about the veterans’ future refuses to die down.

Some believe the management might be using this series as a litmus test – giving them one last shot before gradually transitioning to younger legs. Others argue that form and fitness should be the only yardsticks, and if the two perform in Australia, they deserve to stay in contention till the 2027 ODI World Cup.

What’s certain is that the series means more than just runs and wickets. For fans, it’s a chance to relive the magic of Rohit’s effortless stroke play and Kohli’s fierce determination – traits that have brought India countless memorable victories.

For the team, it’s about striking the perfect balance between experience and youth as Gill begins his journey as India’s new leader Down Under.

Whether this tour marks a new beginning or the closing chapter of a golden era, one thing is undeniable – the cricketing world will be glued to Rohit and Virat once again, hoping their bats do the talking, just as they have for over a decade.

The opening clash between India and Australia will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19.

India’s ODI squad for the Australia tour includes Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

New Delhi, Oct 16: Veteran New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson has been appointed as the new strategic advisor of IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Williamson will take on the role following the departure of India’s fast bowling legend Zaheer Khan, who was the franchise’s mentor for IPL 2025.

Interestingly, Williamson had been a part of the Durban’s Super Giants, the sister franchise of LSG, in this year’s SA20. “Kane has been a part of the Super Giants family and it’s an absolute delight to welcome him in his new role as Strategic Advisor for @LucknowIPL.”

“His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team,” wrote Goenka, the chairman of RPSG Group, on his ‘X’ account on Thursday.

Williamson is currently on a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and his most recent appearance for the Blackcaps came in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where the side finished runners-up to India.

In 79 IPL matches, while turning out for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans, Williamson made 2128 runs at an average of 35.46 and a strike rate of 125.61, including being the leading run-getter in the 2018 season.

The franchise had previously hired former India bowling coach Bharat Arun as their bowling coach. Sources in the franchise have also told IANS on Thursday that Carl Crowe has been added to LSG’s support staff as the spin bowling coach.

Crowe was previously in the same role with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and worked on making Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy a lethal spin bowling pair for the three-time IPL winners.

“It was confirmed some time back that Crowe will also join Arun in LSG now, and an official statement will come soon. With Justin Langer also being retained as the head coach following talks going on back and forth, the franchise will soon kickstart its preparations for IPL 2026 auction,” further said sources.

LSG, under the leadership of India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, ended their IPL 2025 campaign at seventh place – matching their finish from the previous season of the competition. The back-to-back mid-table results mark a dip from their impressive third-place finishes in the IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively.