KL Rahul`s 38-run knock helps Team India reach 136 runs in rain-curtailed match

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In the first ODI match against Australia, Team India posted a total of 136 runs for the loss of nine wickets at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Initially, the match was cut short to 35 overs due to rain interruption.

Later, when the conditions seemed to be right, the rain interrupted yet again, following which the play was reduced to 26 overs.

KL Rahul played a gritty knock as he scored 38 runs off 31 deliveries. His knock was laced with two boundaries and the same number of maximums.

Returning to international cricket after several months, Team India`s traditional opening batsman, Rohit Sharma, managed to score just eight runs off 14 balls, including a boundary. Newly appointed skipper Shubman Gill scored 10 runs in 18 balls. He also smashed two boundaries.

A much-awaited return to international cricket of Virat Kohli ended in a very disappointing manner. Facing eight balls, the right-hander departed without scoring any runs.

Shreyas Iyer accumulated 11 runs off 24 balls, with the help of a boundary. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Axar Patel played a crucial knock for India. He faced 38 balls and registered 31 runs, which included three boundaries. Washington Sundar`s knock also ended with 10 runs in 10 balls, including a boundary. Harshit Rana, too, could not accumulate many runs, as he departed after scoring just one run in two balls.

Arshdeep Singh lost his wicket in a miscommunication with debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy. He was run out by Nathan Ellis. Later, Nitish gave the finishing touches. Facing 11 balls, the right-hander scored an unbeaten 19 runs, with the help of two boundaries. Along with him, Mohammed Siraj stayed unbeaten without facing any deliveries.

Australia`s Josh Hazlewood, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Mitchell Owen claimed two wickets each. Bowling seven overs, Hazlewood conceded 20 runs. Owen was smashed for 20 runs in three overs, whereas Kuhnemann gave away 26 runs in his spell of four overs.

Lead pacer Mithell Star managed to pick one wicket by conceding 22 runs in six overs. Along with him, Nathan Ellis, who bowled five overs, picked up one wicket by leaking 29 runs.

Matt Short conceded 17 runs in one over.

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