Shubman Gill stood before the media at Perth’s scenic Matilda Bay, his arms folded across his chest for almost the entire ten minutes of the press conference. It wasn’t until the final question—about his own batting—that the young Indian captain relaxed, dropping his arms and slipping his hands into his pockets. Until then, every question had circled back to his illustrious predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are set to play their first match for India in over eight months.

Both Kohli and Rohit, now retired from Tests and T20Is, remain the towering figures of Indian cricket. Gill’s composure while speaking about them reflected both admiration and awareness of the legacy he is stepping into. He acknowledged the privilege of leading two of the greatest ODI cricketers of all time and learning from their experience in the build-up to his first series as full-time captain.

Yet, when the conversation turned to his own batting, Gill seemed at ease—perhaps symbolic of this fresh chapter for Indian cricket. The ODI series against Australia marks the beginning of a new era, but much of the narrative still revolves around Kohli and Rohit—the two giants who have shaped Indian cricket over the past decade and a half. Their comeback has naturally stolen the spotlight, even as India transitions under Gill’s leadership.

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With the next ODI World Cup still two years away, this series might not carry the same weight as the T20I leg that follows, but it remains significant for what it represents—a blend of experience and renewal. The Optus Stadium in Perth, known for its pace and bounce, promises an exciting contest, and ticket sales have already touched record numbers. Despite a few rain concerns, fans are eagerly awaiting a match that could mark both an ending and a beginning for Indian cricket.

Australia

In the lead-up to the much-anticipated Ashes, Australian cricket’s focus briefly shifts to the ODI series against India, where several fresh faces are set to make their mark. With a mix of injuries and tactical reshuffles, Australia’s squad has undergone notable changes. Matt Renshaw and Mitch Owen are set to make their ODI debuts, while Western Australia’s own Josh Philippe returns to the national setup. Although the middle order appears slightly inexperienced, the lineup boasts strength at both ends — with Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh providing explosive starts, and the world-class pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood leading the bowling attack.

Probable XI: Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Matt Renshaw, Matt Short, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood

India

India, meanwhile, might be missing two of their biggest names — Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya — but they still present a formidable challenge. Young talents like Nitish Kumar Reddy and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who may get the nod ahead of Prasidh Krishna, add fresh energy and depth to the squad.

Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh/Prasidh Krishna