KL Rahul demoted, Axar Patel at 5: Analysing India's surprising call in 1st ODI vs AUS

Axar Patel was sent to bat ahead of KL Rahul in IND vs AUS 1st ODI [Source: AFP]

India had a worrisome start to the first ODI against Australia at Perth Stadium. Shubman Gill lost the first toss as ODI captain, with his Australian counterpart Mitchell Marsh inviting India to bat in tricky conditions. The Australian skipper's decision weaved magic, as the Australian pacers removed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill cheaply in quick succession. However, in a surprising move, India sent Axar Patel ahead of their Mr dependable, KL Rahul, to face a formidable Australian attack. 

KL Rahul, India's proven performer at 5, demoted vs AUS

(KL Rahul's excellent numbers at 5)

As evidenced by the above stats, KL Rahul has been a prolific performer for India at number five in ODI cricket. The stylish right-handed batter has amassed 1299 runs in 31 innings at that position at a superb average of 56.48 and a strike rate of 96.36. Rahul has slammed eleven fifty-plus scores, showcasing his consistency at number five. So, considering his prolific record, Axar Patel's promotion over Rahul to bat at five surprised the Indian cricket fans. 

Reasons why India promoted Axar over KL Rahul

To ensure left-right combination

• The pitch at the Perth Stadium offered genuine seam movement and extra bounce, which the Australian bowlers capitalised on to send Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill inside the first nine overs. 
• If you notice, all of these dismissed batters are right-handers. And with Shreyas Iyer, another right-hander, entering the middle at four, India decided to change their strategy, sending Axar Patel, who is left-handed. 
• In cricket, fast bowlers generally don't want to face a pair of left and right-handed batters because such a duo forces them to vary their lines and lengths frequently, thereby unsettling them. So, India's move to promote Axar Patel over KL Rahul is meant to prevent the Australian speedsters from hitting the ideal length efficiently. 

Axar Patel's past heroics at five

(Axar Patel's ODI record by batting positions)

• This is not the first time India have promoted Axar Patel to number five over KL Rahul. The Indian think tank implemented a similar ploy in the 2025 Champions Trophy, even reaping rewards for the bold call. 
• As it is evident from the table given above, Axar Patel has been the most productive as a batter at number five, scoring 283 runs at an average of 35.38 and a strike rate of 88.16. 
• He was India's regular number five in the Champions Trophy, slamming 106 crucial runs in tricky match situations. So, he has proven in the past that he can succeed at five and help India save KL Rahul to do the finisher's job in the slog overs in the absence of their first-choice finisher, Hardik Pandya. 

Final Verdict

It certainly could be a counterargument that India must've taken the challenge head-on and persisted with KL Rahul at five. However, sometimes it's wise to step back and think about the bigger picture. It's a fifty-over game, and if Axar Patel forms a steady stand with Shreyas Iyer and succeeds in keeping the Australian bowlers at bay, KL Rahul has all the ability in the world to make the most of the conditions and a relatively more exhausted Australian attack later in the match. 

---

ALSO READ

AUS vs IND live updates: 1st ODI match score, live streaming, toss update, highlights

---