India squad vs Australia: Ashwin returns for ODIs; Rohit, Kohli rested for first two matches

India captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of men’s selection committee Ajit Agarkar announced the squad for three-match ODI series to take on Australia, with Ravichandran Ashwin making a return into the white-ball side along with Washington Sundar.

KL Rahul, who made a heroic return from a thigh injury in the 2023 Asia Cup that India ended up winning, will be leading the 15-man squad in the first two matches of the series.

The selectors have decided to rest Rohit and vice-captain Hardik Pandya along with batting superstar Virat Kohli and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the first two matches of the series. The selectors decided to give the senior players some rest after a hectic Asia Cup campaign.

Rohit, however, will return to the helm in the third ODI, the squad for which will be India’s World Cup 15 along with Ashwin and Sundar.

It is widely believed that Ashwin and Sundar will be competing for a slot in the World Cup squad in case left-arm spinner Axar Patel fails to recover from an injury that he picked up in the Asia Cup Super Four game against Bangladesh. Axar had suffered a left quadriceps strain in that match, and his participation in the initial phase of the World Cup is under doubt.

India will face off against Australia in three ODIs starting 22 September.

The India vs Australia series is a dress rehearsal for both teams before the ODI World Cup in October. Incidentally, they will play against each other in their respective tournament openers on 8 October in Chennai.

India come into the series on the back of an eighth Asia Cup title. The World Cup hosts stamped their continental authority by trouncing Sri Lanka in the final by 10 wickets with nearly 44 overs to go. Spurred on by Mohammed Siraj, who posted figures of 6/21, India’s lethal bowling attack dismissed the islanders for a paltry 50 runs and chased down the low target without fuss.

Their focus now shifts firmly to the ICC World Cup. Following the three-match series against Australia, India will play a warm-up match against England in Guwahati (on 30 September) and Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram (on 3 October). Australia, meanwhile, will play warm-up games against Netherlands (on 30 September) and Pakistan (on 3 October).

Australia had named their squad for the matches in Mohali, Indore and Rajkot on Sunday. The 18-member squad included the return of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc who were recovering from injuries picked up during the Ashes. They had subsequently missed the tour to South Africa.

Also named in Australia’s squad was Glenn Maxwell who had aggravated his ankle issue while training and then flown back for the birth of his child.

Among the absences are Ashton Agar and Travis Head. Agar suffered a minor calf tear and then returned home. Head, meanwhile, is a bigger concern and faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup. He had fractured his hand during the fourth ODI against South Africa.

India squad for first two ODIs: KL Rahul (captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar

India squad for 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel (subject to fitness), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohammed Siraj.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

India vs Australia series schedule:

1st ODI: on 22 September in Mohali

2nd ODI: on 24 September in Indore

3rd ODI: on 27 September in Rajkot