The three-match ODI series between India and Australia, held in October 2025, was a gripping contest between two cricketing giants — filled with tense finishes, player injuries, and moments of brilliance. Although Australia won the series 2–1, India ended on a high with a dominant victory in the final match, highlighted by a vintage century from Rohit Sharma.
🏟️ Series Overview
- Host: Australia
- Dates: 19th October – 25th October 2025
- Venues: Perth, Adelaide, Sydney
- Result: Australia won 2–1
- Player of the Series: Rohit Sharma (India)
This series was particularly significant because it marked a transition phase for Team India. Young opener Shubman Gill captained the side, while senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made their return to the ODI setup after taking breaks from other formats. For Australia, it was an opportunity to test their bench strength ahead of the 2026 Champions Trophy.
🏏 1st ODI – Perth (19 October 2025)
Result: Australia won by 7 wickets (DLS method)
The opening game at the Perth Stadium was affected by rain, reducing the match to 26 overs per side. India batted first but struggled on the fast and bouncy pitch.
- India: 136/9 (26 overs)
- Top Scorer: Virat Kohli – 32 runs
- Australia: 140/3 (22.5 overs, DLS)
- Top Scorer: Travis Head – 64 runs
India’s batting collapsed against the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, who exploited the conditions brilliantly. The top order fell cheaply, and only a late stand from the lower order prevented an embarrassing total. Australia chased the target comfortably, taking a 1–0 lead.
Key Highlight: India’s inability to adapt to Australian pitches early in the tour was evident. Their batting looked rusty, and there were visible coordination issues under new leadership.
🏏 2nd ODI – Adelaide Oval (23 October 2025)
Result: Australia won by 2 runs
This was the most thrilling game of the series — a true nail-biter that went down to the last ball.
- Australia: 265/8 (50 overs)
- Top Scorer: Marnus Labuschagne – 78 runs
- India: 263/9 (50 overs)
- Top Scorer: Shubman Gill – 82 runs
Chasing 266, India started well with Gill and Kohli building a solid partnership. However, a middle-order collapse and excellent death bowling from Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa cost India the game by just 2 runs.
Key Highlight: India lost their first ODI at Adelaide in 17 years, despite dominating most of the chase. It was a morale-shattering loss that sealed the series 2–0 in Australia’s favour.
Turning Point: Shreyas Iyer’s injury while fielding — a serious laceration to his spleen — forced him to leave the field and miss the rest of the series.
🏏 3rd ODI – Sydney Cricket Ground (25 October 2025)
Result: India won by 9 wickets
With pride on the line, India came out determined to end the series on a strong note. Bowling first, India’s spinners and medium pacers combined beautifully to dismiss Australia for 236 runs.
- Australia: 236 all out (47 overs)
- India: 237/1 (38.3 overs)
- Top Scorer (India): Rohit Sharma – 121*
- Top Scorer (Australia): Steve Smith – 58
The chase was a masterclass from Rohit Sharma, who delivered one of his most composed and technically perfect innings in recent years. He started cautiously, then unleashed a flurry of boundaries against the spinners, reaching his century in 107 balls.
Rohit was well-supported by *Virat Kohli (78)**, and together they stitched an unbeaten 179-run partnership.
Key Highlight: Rohit’s 121* not only silenced his critics but also marked his 50th international century, a monumental milestone that put him among the game’s greats.
Impact: India avoided a whitewash and reminded everyone that, even amid transition, their batting core remains world-class.
🌟 Rohit Sharma’s Redemption
Rohit’s performance in the final ODI earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series. He scored 202 runs in the series at an average of 101, showcasing remarkable consistency.
This innings was particularly meaningful because Rohit had recently stepped down from captaincy and was under scrutiny about his future in ODIs. His fluent stroke play and calm temperament at Sydney proved that experience still has a crucial role in India’s evolving team.
With this century, Rohit equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of nine ODI centuries against Australia — a feat that underscores his dominance against one of the strongest bowling attacks in the world.
⚖️ Series Analysis
| Aspect | India | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Depth | Inconsistent in first two matches, strong comeback in the last | More balanced throughout |
| Bowling Attack | Improved with spinners in Sydney | Pace attack dominated early but faded later |
| Fielding | Mixed performances; injury to Iyer hurt | Sharp and disciplined |
| Captaincy | Gill showed composure under pressure | Cummins led aggressively and rotated bowlers smartly |
🧩 What Lies Ahead
- India move into the five-match T20I series in Canberra with boosted morale. The Sydney win gives them momentum and renewed confidence.
- Australia, on the other hand, will look to rest key players like Cummins and Starc before the Test summer.
- For Indian cricket, this series highlighted the importance of senior players guiding young leaders, while also exposing areas for improvement — particularly the middle-order stability and death bowling.
📰 Summary in One Line:
Australia won the series 2–1, but India ended on a high — with Rohit Sharma’s century reminding the world that class and experience never fade.
