India’s 3 Key Mistakes In 1st ODI vs Australia

India suffered a seven-wicket loss in the opening ODI against Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, October 19. Their first match of the white-ball tour Down Under went completely awry, leaving the Men in Blue struggling on multiple fronts. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has recently faced criticism over India’s tactical approaches, and Perth was no different.

From the team combination announced at the toss to on-field decisions, Shubman Gill and his teammates were found lacking strategically at several key moments. Here’s a look at three major mistakes India made in the first ODI against Australia.

#1 India could have promoted Nitish Kumar Reddy ahead of Washington Sundar

When Axar Patel departed at the end of the 20th over, India faced a critical phase with just 84 runs on the board and only six overs remaining. The rain-shortened contest, reduced to a 26-over match, meant the team had significant work to do. In this scenario, India opted to send Washington Sundar ahead of Nitish Kumar Reddy, likely to preserve a left-right batting combination.

However, Reddy might have been the better choice to take on Matt Kuhnemann, as his two sixes in the final over demonstrated. Sundar could manage only 10 runs from 10 balls and was dismissed attempting a reverse sweep off Kuhnemann. Reddy, on the other hand, made the most of his brief stint, scoring an unbeaten 19 off 11 deliveries.

#2 India’s top order struggled to find a plan during the powerplay

India’s batting approach in the opening powerplay was completely off the mark. Facing Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Ellis, the Men in Blue failed to adapt their game to the conditions. With intermittent rain, the Australian bowlers enjoyed movement both in the air and off the pitch, along with the extra bounce at Optus Stadium.

Despite this, Rohit Sharma repeatedly attempted to slog across the line, while Virat Kohli tried to force shots off the front foot through the cover region. India clearly needed to take a more cautious approach against the new ball, especially considering that both Rohit and Kohli were returning from extended breaks from top-level cricket.

#3 India Omit Kuldeep Yadav From Playing XI

Dropping Kuldeep Yadav seemed inevitable, given Gautam Gambhir’s emphasis on batting depth, but that doesn’t make it a wise decision. Even though Kuldeep might not have turned the game in the second innings, India must recognize that sidelining one of the world’s top spinners, especially in his current form, is risky.

The left-arm wrist-spinner has been a consistent match-winner in ODIs, playing key roles in India’s 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy campaigns. Kuldeep’s presence is essential, regardless of conditions. Without him, controlling the middle overs, a crucial phase in any ODI, becomes a near-impossible task for India.