India vs. Australia, 1st ODI: KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja Guide India To 5-Wicket Win Over Australia

In the first ODI match between India and Australia held in Mumbai on Friday, India emerged victorious with a comfortable five-wicket win against Australia. KL Rahul's composed 75 under pressure was the highlight of the match. After winning the toss, Australia suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six wickets for 19 runs inside eight overs, and was bowled out for 188 in 35.4 overs, with Mohammed Shami's mesmerizing spell of seam bowling claiming 3/17.

India had a shaky start as Mitchell Starc's incisive swing bowling blew away the Indian top order, leaving them at 39 for four just after the end of the Powerplay. Captain Hardik Pandya's innings of 25 did stem the rot, but India was still in a precarious position when he was dismissed with the scoreboard reading 83 for 5.

Ravindra Jadeja (45 not out, 69 balls) gave adequate support to KL Rahul in their unbroken 108-run partnership, leading India to victory in 39.5 overs. Rahul anchored the innings in the face of a storm and has comfortably taken to the role of a No.5 keeper-batter.

Starc had a great start to his spell, trapping Virat Kohli (4) and Suryakumar Yadav leg-before in quick succession. Sean Abbott also got the ball to jag back in, trapping Shubman Gill leg-before, but the Indian batter reviewed successfully after being adjudged out.

The credit for marshaling the resources well on his ODI captaincy debut goes to Pandya, albeit as a stand-in. Shami's early second spell proved to be a masterstroke as Australia, from 169/4, collapsed like a house of cards. He got Jos Inglis and Cameron Green in his next over with a delivery that sent the off-stump cart-wheeling.

On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj, who provided an early wicket in the second over, also succeeded in his second spell to return with figures of 5.4-1-29-3, snaffling the last two wickets in the Australian innings.

Mitchell Marsh's 81 off 65 balls gave Australia a rollicking start, but India kept making inroads at regular intervals and eventually bundled them out for a below-par score.

India's win in the first match gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Australia. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja's performance under pressure will give India confidence heading into the second ODI, which will be played on Sunday.