Rohit-Kohli return to ODI after 7 months ends in 7 overs; Australia crush India by 7 wickets

Indian cricket fans waited seven months to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the international stage, but their performances did not stretch beyond seven overs in the first ODI against Australia in Perth on Sunday.

Rohit was the first to go as he went for a defensive push on a Josh Hazlewood delivery that climbed, getting caught in the second slip. The former skipper, who delivered India the Champions Trophy in March, scoring a brilliant 76 in the final against New Zealand, fell for eight on his return.

Kohli joined the current skipper, Shubman Gill, in the middle, but struggled to get going, fending off seven deliveries before driving at a full-length pitched outside off into the hands of Cooper Connolly at backward point. The stylish 36-year-old perished for a duck.

India lost Gill for 10 and Shreyas Iyer for 11, both players trying to work it down the leg side, only to be outwitted by the bounce, ending up caught by Josh Philippe behind the stumps.

India were 46/4 in the 15th over when rain halted the proceedings yet again. The match had already been reduced to 35-over-a-side due to a second rain interruption and a wet outfield, and when play resumed, the match was further trimmed to 26 overs per side.

Axar Patel (31) and K L Rahul (38) forged a 39-run stand, but the innings collapsed after their dismissals. India posted 136/9. In response, Australia won with 29 balls to spare. Captain Mitchell Marsh top-scored with an unbeaten 46, while Philippe made 37.

India and Australia will play two more ODIs, in Adelaide (Oct 23) and Sydney (Oct 25), before heading into a five-match T20I series.