Report card of Indian players after ODI assignment against Australia:Rohit’s class shines, Kohli rediscovers touch; underwhelming returns for captain Gill

India went down 1-2 to Australia in the three-match ODI series, which marked the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international cricket. The hosts dominated the first two matches in Perth and Adelaide, with their pacers exploiting lively conditions. India salvaged pride in the Sydney finale, chasing down 237 with 69 balls to spare as Rohit and Kohli put on a clinical partnership. It was a mixed bag for the visitors, flashes of brilliance from the senior pros, steady returns from the all-rounders and plenty of lessons for Shubman Gill’s captaincy in testing conditions. Here’s a look at India’s player report card from the series: Rohit Sharma – 9.5/10 Back with a bang
Rohit marked his ODI comeback in style, finishing as the leading run-getter with 202 runs at an average of 101. His unbeaten 121* in Sydney was a brilliant knock in every sense- controlled aggression, precise shot selection and sharp running between wickets. Also chipped in with a crucial fifty in Adelaide. Player of the Series and Player of the Match in the third ODI. Virat Kohli – 7/10 Quiet start, classy finish Two ducks in Perth and Adelaide sparked questions about rhythm but Kohli answered them emphatically in Sydney. His 74* off 63 balls, filled with deft touches and textbook timing, sealed the chase in style. Showed he still relishes pressure situations, even if rust showed earlier. Harshit Rana – 8.5/10 Pace and promise The bright new face of India’s attack. Six wickets in the series made him the leading wicket-taker for India, including breakthroughs in key moments. His 24* off 18 in Adelaide added valuable lower-order runs. A spirited series that suggests long-term potential. Washington Sundar- 8/10 Reliable and composed A quietly effective contributor. Five wickets and tidy spells through the middle overs gave India control when pitches flattened out. His batting remains useful, with 22 runs in two innings, including crucial runs down the order. Axar Patel – 7/10 Steady but could do more Scored 75 runs and took three wickets across the series. Adapted well to conditions but lacked penetration with the ball. Handy with the bat, especially during lower-order rebuilds. Needs to rediscover his wicket-taking bite in ODIs. Shreyas Iyer – 7.5/10 Starts without substance Looked fluent in both innings he played, scoring 72 runs overall. Missed a big score after promising starts. His intent was positive, but consistency remains an area to polish. Shubman Gill – 5/10 Poor series for the skipper, captaincy lessons aplenty Gill managed just 43 runs in three innings and seemed tentative as the skipper. His field placements and bowling changes came under scrutiny, especially in tight phases in Adelaide. Needs sharper decision-making to grow into a leadership role in the 50-over format. Arshdeep Singh – 6/10 Glimpses of control
Played two matches and picked three wickets. Showed good discipline with the new ball but still needs to work on variations at the death. A useful supporting act to Rana and Siraj. Mohammed Siraj – 6/10 Below his best
Three games, just two wickets. Despite flashes of control, lacked the bite that usually defines him. Bowled long spells in Adelaide but didn’t make inroads when conditions eased up. Will look to bounce back in the T20 leg. What did the series reveal? India’s 1–2 loss reflected both rust and renewal. Rohit Sharma’s return brought authority at the top, while Kohli’s Sydney innings reassured fans ahead of tougher assignments. The younger core, led by Rana and Sundar, showed heart but lacked consistency. Gill’s captaincy debut in ODIs will be a learning curve but the positives from the Sydney win give India a platform to build momentum in the upcoming T20I series starting October 29.