IND vs AUS: Rohit and Gill popcorn moment as India stumble in Perth ODI
IND vs AUS: Rohit and Gill popcorn moment as India stumble in Perth ODI
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli struggle with the bat in Perth as rain delays bring a light-hearted popcorn moment behind the scenes.
The much-anticipated return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI arena did not go as planned as India faced Australia in the first ODI in Perth. Australia won the toss and elected to field, continuing India’s 16th consecutive ODI toss loss since the CWC 2023 semifinal against New Zealand at Wankhede. The Perth deck offered plenty of bounce, and the Australian bowlers made the most of it.
Josh Hazlewood trapped Rohit with a sharp, hard-length delivery, while Mitchell Starc bowled a wide that Virat Kohli chased, resulting in a duck for Kohli, the first time in 30 ODI innings in Australia. Shubman Gill managed a couple of boundaries but was eventually dismissed leg before. Together, the trio scored just 18 runs, the lowest combined total in an ODI where all three batted, breaking the previous mark of 25 against Pakistan in 2023.
Amid the early batting struggles, rain then paused play, offering a rare moment of levity. During the second rain delay, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were spotted in the dressing room munching popcorn together. The two were first seen in what appeared to be a serious discussion, likely analysing the pitch conditions and batting strategy, but soon shifted to jokes and laughter as they watched the rain outside. The moment was a heartwarming reminder that despite changes in leadership and the pressures of international cricket, camaraderie remains strong between the experienced Rohit and the young captain Gill.
