Rain breaks are always frustrating, but they create pressure on the batting side, especially if they make a struggling start in an encounter. That was the exact case with India, who lost four wickets, including their top three, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, during the opening encounter of the series against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. 

After several rain breaks, the overs were reduced to 26 overs in the game. The Blue Brigade needed to free their arms and put a respectable total on the board to give some chance to their bowlers. Axar Patel was the first when he went over the wicket-keeper’s head for a boundary before following it up with another four over the long-off region.

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On the 21st over, Mitchell Marsh brought Matthew Short into the bowling attack. Rahul used his feet on the third ball to smack it over the bowler’s head for a fine six. Short perhaps had seen the batter using his feet, which was why he cut the length, but Rahul was fully committed and used his power to time the shot with perfection.

Watch: KL Rahul smashed Matthew Short for two successive sixes during AUS vs IND Perth ODI

On the very next delivery, Short looked to pitch the ball up. Rahul came down the pitch and got it right under his blade. A clean swing saw the Bengaluru-born sending it soaring over the long-on region for a six. Even when Nathan Ellis was on the attack, Rahul used his T20 skills for the big shots.

You simply cannot miss this! @klrahul is launching some Diwali rockets at the Optus Stadium. 🎇#AUSvIND 👉 1st ODI | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/FkZ5L4CrRl pic.twitter.com/zdv6if5KYK

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 19, 2025

He backed away and opened the off-side to nail the slower ball over the diving mid-off fielder for a boundary. On the very next ball, Ellis pulled the length back a bit as the sweet timing of the slap from Rahul clubbed the ball over the mid-wicket region for another boundary.

Matthew Kuhnemann, however, was excellent in drying up the runs. He bowled three overs for 13 runs with the wickets of Patel and Washington Sundar. Rahul raced away to 38 runs in 30 balls as the Blue Brigade found themselves 118/6 in 24 overs.