AUS vs IND: Australia’s strongest predicted playing XI for first ODI vs India

Check Australia's strongest predicted playing XI for the 1st ODI against India in Perth. Includes top-order changes and the pace attack for the pace-friendly pitch.

By Jack 17 Oct 2025 in Cricket

New Update

India will lock horns with Australia in the first of the three-match ODI series, which will be played on Sunday, October 19, in Perth. This will be the comeback series for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma since March 2025.

For the unversed, Australia last played an ODI series against South Africa, which they lost 1-2 at home. Interestingly, Australia will be without their ICC World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins, who has been ruled out due to a back injury.

In his absence, Mitchell Marsh will be the stand-in captain. On that note, let’s take a look at Australia's predicted strongest playing XI for the first ODI against India.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head will take up the opening slots. While Marsh scored 473 runs in 12 innings against India, Head scored 384 runs in 10 innings, including a century in the ICC World Cup 2023 final.

Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Matt Short, and Mitchell Owen are part of the middle order, while Josh Philippe will be the wicket-keeper in the absence of Alex Carey and Josh Inglis. Matt Short and Mitchell Owen are likely to be the finishers.

Cooper Connolly will be a decent batting all-rounder, batting in the lower middle-order. Matthew Kunhemann will bowl alongside Short and Owen in the spin department. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will lead the pace attack alongside Nathan Ellis.

While Australia is all set to play the first ODI in Perth, the second ODI is at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 23. The action then quickly moves to the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, October 25.

Australia's strongest predicted playing XI for the first ODI vs India:

Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Philippe (WK), Matt Short, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kunhemann, Josh Hazlewood.

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