Indian star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma returned to international cricket in a quiet fashion on Sunday at Optus Stadium, where the first of a three‑match ODI series against Australia ended with low scores and early wickets.
Both players had taken a break from Test and T20I play, so their comeback was highly anticipated. The crowd cheered as they took the field, but the excitement faded quickly when the wickets fell.
Rohit was out in the fourth over, only eight runs from 14 balls, and it was Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood who dismantled India’s top order. Kohli followed, dismissed for an eight‑ball duck after a sharp delivery from Mitch Marsh. By the time the hosts bowled out the third wicket, India was already three down.
With the opener, Shubman Gill, stepping into the captain’s shoes, the team saw him hit five boundaries in the first four overs. However, he was dismissed on an 18‑ball 10, caught by wicketkeeper Josh Philippe at the third wicket. The pressure shifted to new batters Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, who were expected to anchor the innings.
This match was Kohli and Rohit’s first international fixture since the Indian Premier League, where they had played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians respectively. Their performance will be crucial in the build‑up to the World Cup, where they hope to earn a spot in India’s final squad.
The opener set a cautious tone for India, with the Australians looking to capitalize on the early advantage and establish momentum early in the series.
Source: ianslive
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