No one's safe in Indian Cricket: Matthew Hayden's full-blown tirade on Gautam Gambhir

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden made a strong statement about former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma during the rain break in the first ODI of the three-match series against Australia. The former left-handed batter said that no one is safe in the Indian team under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Openers Rohit and Shubman Gill struggled to find rhythm in challenging overcast conditions after India were asked to bat first at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19. The Australian pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood exploited the conditions, unsettling both openers early on.

Rohit managed only eight runs in his comeback game, while Gill, leading India for the first time in ODIs, perished for 10 as India slumped into early trouble.

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It Seems No One’s Truly Safe in the Indian Setup - Matthew Hayden

After being dismissed early in the first powerplay, the two players were spotted having an extended discussion in the dressing room while rain repeatedly halted play.

Matthew Hayden stated that Rohit Sharma remains composed under pressure. Hayden also noted that, within the Indian setup, no player’s place is ever guaranteed.

"He (Rohit) doesn't seem too flappable. He knows how to handle pressure and absorb it for his team. I’m eager to see how his career progresses leading up to the World Cup, as he surely looks set to be part of that campaign. The great thing, though, is that in the Indian setup, it seems no one’s truly safe," Matthew Hayden stated.

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— crictalk (@crictalk7) October 19, 2025

Rohit Sharma Falls for 8 in ODI Comeback

Rohit Sharma showed early promise on his return to competitive cricket since the 2025 IPL. He got off the mark with the first ball and hit a boundary off Mitchell Starc. However, he struggled against Josh Hazlewood’s extra bounce in the fourth over and edged one to slip.

KL Rahul scored 38 off 31 balls, including two sixes and two fours, as India posted 136 for 9 in the rain-shortened 26-over contest. Axar Patel contributed 31 runs off 38 deliveries, while debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy added an unbeaten 19 off 11 balls, including two sixes.

Australia’s bowlers dominated the innings, with Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Owen, and Matthew Kuhnemann picking up two wickets each to keep India under pressure.

Ajit Agarkar Signals Future Planning with Shubman Gill as Captain

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that it is unfair to question Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s place in 50-over cricket, given their key roles in the 2023 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. He said that selectors should not judge their performances after every match.

Agarkar also pointed out that the next World Cup is still some time away. Rohit and Kohli will need to maintain their form and fitness to secure spots, and if their performances decline, the team will have to make tough decisions.

Shubman Gill was appointed captain, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was picked as backup opener in the ODI squad. The selectors signaled that they are already planning for the future and cannot take the long-term roles of Rohit and Kohli for granted.

Also read: 'Shreyas Iyer dances on the pitch against short balls': India batter brutally trolled after failure in 1st ODI vs AUS