India batted first in the first ODI against Australia at Perth on Tuesday, and reached a formidable 309/3 at the end of 50 overs, riding on an unbeaten 171 from opener Rohit Sharma on a belter of a pitch.

Rohit Sharma's innings contained 13 fours and seven sixes as he feasted on the Australian bowling. He found good support in Virat Kohli, came in at the fall of Shikhar Dhawan's wicket when India were 36. The two put together a 207-run partnership with Kohli scoring 91 in only 97 balls.

Kohli was unlucky to miss out on a century, but Sharma carried on, helped by cameos from Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. Almost every Australian bowler came in for punishment though left-arm quick James Faulkner picked up two wickets, conceding 60 runs in his ten overs.

All eyes will be on the Australian chase now while India will be hoping that their spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can rein in the runs. Left-arm pacer Barinder Sran will make his debut for India in this game, the first of the five-match ODI series.