Cricket fans might see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in action sooner than expected, with reports suggesting they could be making a competitive return through the India A squad before the tour of Australia in October.

The two veteran players are likely to be picked for the India A squad for the three-matchOne Day International (ODI) series against Australia A, which will be held at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The matches are scheduled for September 30, October 3, and October 5.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, both players are being considered for selection in the India A squad. If selected, this would mark their first appearance since retiring from Test cricket earlier this year.

Both Rohit and Kohli last represented India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Rohit played a match-winning knock of 76 runs off 83 balls in the final against New Zealand, earning the Player of the Match award. Kohli also enjoyed excellent form in the tournament, scoring 84 runs against Australia in the semifinal and an unbeaten century against Pakistan in the group stage, earning him Player of the Match awards.

Since retiring from Test cricket in May 2025, following the conclusion of the IPL season, neither player has participated in competitive cricket. Kohli, who is currently abroad, is expected to return to India this month and may undergo fitness assessments in Bengaluru before a final decision on his selection is made. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has reportedly cleared his fitness drills at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, even passing a Yo-Yo test at the Centre of Excellence.

The India A matches against Australia A would provide crucial preparation for the upcoming tour of Australia. The senior men's team is scheduled to play three ODIs in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney on October 19, 23, and 25, followed by a five-match T20I series.

Both Rohit and Kohli have stellar records against Australia. Rohit Sharma has scored 2407 runs in 46 ODIs against Australia, while Kohli has amassed 2451 runs in 50 matches. Their experience could prove vital as India seeks success on Australian soil.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced the India A squad for the two red-ball matches against Australia A but has yet to name the squad for the white-ball games. Even if Rohit is selected as a player, the decision regarding the ODI captaincy will be taken with a long-term perspective in mind.

The India A squad for the multi-day matches includes Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran, N Jagadeesan (WK), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (VC & WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Harsh Dubey, Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Manav Suthar, and Yash Thakur. KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj will be added to the squad for the second multi-day match, replacing two players after the first match.

The first leg of the Australia A tour of India 2025 commences in Lucknow with two four-day unofficial Test matches commencing September 16th and September 23rd. Following the red-ball matches, the focus will shift to Kanpur for three unofficial ODIs on September 30, October 3, and October 5.