The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a white-ball tour of Australia, and fans are eagerly awaiting the squad announcement, which is expected on Saturday, October 4. All eyes are on the potential inclusion of veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI squad.
Return of the Stalwarts
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have retired from Tests and T20Is, are likely to make their ODI comeback after a seven-month hiatus. They last played for India during the Champions Trophy 2025. There had been speculation about their future in the ODI format, but recent reports suggest that they are set to be picked for the ODI squad. Their inclusion would provide a significant boost to the team's experience and firepower.
Kohli was in impressive form at the Champions Trophy, scoring a century against Pakistan and top-scoring in the semi-final against Australia. Rohit Sharma had a slow start to the tournament but delivered a match-winning performance against New Zealand in the final.
Squad Selection Challenges
The selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, faces several challenges while picking the squad. Injuries to key players like Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant have to be addressed. Hardik Pandya is recovering from a quadriceps injury, while Rishabh Pant is nursing a foot fracture.
Workload management is another crucial factor. Test skipper Shubman Gill, who has been playing लगातार, may be rested for either the ODIs or T20Is. If Gill is rested for the ODIs, Abhishek Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal could be considered as Rohit's opening partner.
Other Possible Selections
Sanju Samson is likely to be selected as the backup wicketkeeper. Mohammed Siraj is also expected to make a comeback to the ODI squad after missing the Champions Trophy. Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana are in contention for the pace-bowling spots. If Hardik Pandya is ruled out, Nitish Kumar Reddy could be included as an all-round option.
Series Details
India's tour of Australia includes three ODIs and five T20Is. The ODI series will be played from October 19 to October 25 in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney. The T20I series will commence on October 29 and conclude on November 8, with matches scheduled in Melbourne, Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart.
The series presents a challenge due to the compressed schedule of eight matches in 19 days, coupled with multiple domestic flights. The selectors will need to carefully manage the players' workload to ensure they remain fresh for the T20 World Cup early next year.
