Overview
- Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat on a dry Rawalpindi surface, bringing in 38-year-old debutant left-arm spinner Asif Afridi as a third specialist slow bowler in place of Hasan Ali.
- South Africa restored Keshav Maharaj to their XI after a groin strain and also recalled Marco Jansen, responding to spin-heavy conditions after Pakistan’s 93-run win on a turning Lahore pitch where spinners claimed 34 of 40 wickets.
- Australia beat India by seven wickets in a rain-reduced opener in Perth, overhauling a DLS target of 131 in 21.1 overs after India were limited to 136 for nine in 26 overs.
- Virat Kohli made a duck and Rohit Sharma scored eight on their ODI returns, while Mitchell Marsh top-scored with 46 not out as Australia moved ahead 1–0 in the three-match series.
- Indian players and former greats publicly backed the senior duo to rebound, and reports suggest India could consider bowling changes for Adelaide on October 23, with names such as Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna discussed and Harshit Rana’s spot under review.