No Bright Spots: Ashwin Tears Into India After ODI Loss to Australia

India’s cricket team suffered a crushing seven-wicket defeat to Australia in the first ODI of a three-match series on October 19, 2025, in Perth, leaving former spinner R. Ashwin to declare there were “no positive takeaways” from the performance. The rain-affected, 26-over contest saw a Shubman Gill-led India collapse to 136/9, with Australia chasing the target in just 21.3 overs. Ashwin, analysing the match on his YouTube channel, highlighted the team’s batting frailties and adaptation struggles on Perth’s bouncy red-soil pitch, underscoring a challenging debut for Gill as captain. This loss, India’s third in four ODIs this year, intensifies pressure on the squad to regroup before the second match, as they vie for momentum in the 2027 World Cup cycle against a dominant Australian side.

India’s innings unravelled early after losing the toss under overcast conditions, which favoured Australia’s pace attack. Stalwarts Rohit Sharma (8) and Virat Kohli (0) fell cheaply, exposing the top order, while Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal down the leg side epitomised the team’s discomfort against short-pitched bowling. Only Nitish Kumar Reddy (32) and KL Rahul (28) offered resistance with brief cameos, salvaging a modest total. Ashwin singled out Reddy’s batting as the lone bright spot, noting, “Maybe Nitish Reddy’s batting. I hope Nitish gets to bowl more.” However, he refrained from critiquing the bowlers—Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana—who struggled to defend 131, suggesting the low total rendered their efforts unassessable. Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh, unbeaten on 48, capitalised with a clinical pull shot, highlighting the conditions’ demands that India failed to meet.

Ashwin attributed part of the debacle to India’s unfamiliarity with Perth’s unique bounce, contrasting it with their recent practice on Delhi’s slower tracks. “India was a little unlucky today. Firstly, India lost the toss, and it was a difficult day to play cricket,” he explained, dismissing technical flaws in Iyer’s dismissal as condition-based rather than skill-related. He urged persistence with the current seam attack but suggested introducing Prasidh Krishna if Harshit Rana underperforms and potentially spinner Kuldeep Yadav for drier pitches later in the series. Australia’s dominance, built on disciplined bowling and Marsh’s composed chase, exposed India’s preparation gaps, particularly after transitioning from subcontinental conditions. The match, attended by 28,000 fans at Optus Stadium, saw Australia’s pace trio of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood exploit swing, taking 5 wickets for 62 runs.

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The defeat amplifies scrutiny on Gill’s leadership, with critics like Aakash Chopra already questioning his underuse of Arshdeep Singh, who took a wicket early but bowled only two of the first 16 overs. As India trail 1-0, the team faces a must-win second ODI in Melbourne to level the series, with weather forecasts predicting clearer skies that could favour batting. Ashwin’s blunt assessment—“We had a really bad day”—reflects broader concerns about India’s ODI form, especially with Kohli’s lean run (averaging 22 in 2025) and Sharma’s inconsistent starts. For fans and selectors, the performance raises questions about squad depth and adaptability, particularly as Australia’s balanced unit eyes a clean sweep. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India emphasising youth integration, Gill’s ability to inspire a turnaround will be pivotal to restoring confidence in a side stung by this humbling loss.

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