The India selection panel, led by former pacer Ajit Agarkar, has handed out the 15‑man squad that will face Australia in late October. The tour will start with three one‑day internationals (ODIs) from October 19‑25, followed by five T20Is beginning October 29.
Among the most talked‑about picks are the return of top players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI side. Fans have also pointed out a handful of surprising omissions and new names that sparked debate in the media and on social media.
Controversial decisions in the squad
Rohit Sharma loses ODI captaincy
Rohit has led India in 56 ODIs, winning 42 and posting a 75 % win rate – one of the best in the format’s history. Despite this, the selectors have dropped him as captain, handing the role to Shubman Gill, a change that many found shocking. With Rohit 38 now and 40 by the 2027 World Cup, players and pundits alike are questioning whether he will headline India’s next World Cup effort.
Mohammed Shami missing out
The fast bowler spent most of his recent career on the sidelines. After recovery, Shami was expected to be an option for the ODI squad, especially after his performances at the domestic level. Instead, the committee chose younger bowlers, raising doubts about whether Shami’s days with India are over.
No Ravindra Jadeja in the ODI camp
Jadeja broke into India’s Test and ODI panels with several strong performances, including a Man‑of‑the‑Match award in the recent India‑West Indies Test in Ahmedabad. Yet the selectors opted for Axar Patel and Washington Sundar for the ODI side, sparking criticism that they overlooked a proven all‑rounder.
Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant out
Hardik Pandya, a key all‑rounder in white‑ball cricket, played the Asia Cup but missed its final due to a fitness issue. The committee decided to rest him for the Australia tour, replacing him with Nitish Kumar Reddy. Rishabh Pant was also left out of both squads, further moving the bench for India’s batting lineup.
Shreyas Iyer gets a leadership role
Shreyas Iyer has been called a future “next big star” for India. Following a break from Tests, he led India A against Australia A and returned to the ODI fold after a solid Champions Trophy campaign. Now, he is the vice‑captain for the Indian ODI team, signalling that selectors see depth in India’s leadership bench.
New squad names
India ODI squad – Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Md. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk)
India T20I squad – Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar
The squad offers a mix of experienced stars and fresh talent, but it also shows the selectors’ willingness to make bold changes. Whether these decisions pay off will only be seen during the ODIs and T20Is against Australia.
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