The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the highly anticipated squads for India’s upcoming tour of Australia. This tour will feature an exciting series of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), kicking off on October 19.
A significant development sees young sensation Shubman Gill stepping up to lead the ODI side, with Shreyas Iyer named as his deputy. Fans will also be thrilled to see the return of veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the playing XI, marking their first appearance since the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
However, the ODI squad also reveals some notable absences. India’s premier pace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has been rested from the squad. This decision comes as part of a crucial workload management strategy, following his intensive commitments across three consecutive assignments: the demanding England Test tour, India’s triumphant Asia Cup campaign, and the ongoing home series against West Indies.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar elaborated on this decision during the team announcement: “We have already rested him for the one-day games. When we can manage his workload, we will certainly do that. It’s not just about Bumrah; players like Mohammed Siraj also bowl a significant number of overs. Other key players frequently participate in Test cricket, which often involves extensive bowling. Our priority is to diligently manage all our seamers to minimize the risk of potential injuries.”
Adding to the list of key players unavailable is the dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He remains sidelined due to a quadriceps injury sustained before the Asia Cup final. Agarkar confirmed his status, stating, “For Australia, he is definitely not available.” Pandya is scheduled to commence his rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence in the near future.
Another prominent all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, despite his pivotal role in the Champions Trophy final, has been omitted from the ODI squad. This decision was made with a strategic eye on the specific conditions expected in Australia. Agarkar clarified, “He is clearly very much in our plans given his immense talent. However, with Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav already in the squad, we believe we have sufficient spin options for the Australian conditions.”
The ODI squad also features reliable wicketkeepers KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel. The pace department will be bolstered by the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana. Kuldeep Yadav takes on the role of the specialist spinner, while Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar offer valuable all-round capabilities. Agarkar expressed optimism regarding Reddy’s inclusion, noting that it provides an opportunity to evaluate his potential in white-ball cricket: “He has shown a lot of promise… we anticipate seeing more of his bowling and batting contributions.”
For the five-match T20I series, the selection largely mirrors the Asia Cup lineup, with Nitish Reddy being the sole additional inclusion. Agarkar also took the opportunity to underscore the enduring importance of domestic cricket. He urged players: “Whenever the guys are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. That is the only way you will maintain your sharpness and readiness for international challenges.”
The highly anticipated series between India and Australia is set to commence with the ODIs on October 19, followed by the T20I leg beginning October 29.