After the ongoing two-match home Test series against West Indies, India’s next assignment will be an away white-ball tour of Australia. The Men in Blue are slated to play a three-match ODI series which willl be followed by five T20Is. The series Down Under is scheduled to begin from October 19.
The BCCI, earlier today (October 4), announced the Indian squad for the same and there were some notable decisions taken. Let’s take a look at the key takeaways from the recent announcement.
The biggest development is the change of guard in ODIs with Rohit Sharma relinquishing the captaincy reins to Shubman Gill. While the series will mark the return of India’s two biggest batting stalwarts – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kolhi, they will now play under a new and young leader in Gill. Notably, the star duo last featured for India during the Champions Trophy 2025 title-winning campaign, having retired from both T20Is and Tests.
Furthermore, with uncertainty over Rohit and Kohli’s future, this change will have a big impact going forward, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup in line and their chances of featuring in the ICC event.
A number of big names are missing from the India squad for the tour. Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are big omissions from the ODI squad while star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is absent across both formats.
It is understood that Jadeja and Bumrah has been rested for the ODI leg although the latter will feature when the short-format series begins. On the other hand, Pandya suffered a serious quadriceps injury ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 Final and has subsequently been ruled out.
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Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel hasn’t got too many opportunities but he has capitalised as much as he could from what has come his way and have now been rewarded with his maiden ODI call-up.
Getting into the playing XI for the West Indies Test in the absence of injured Rishabh Pant, Jurel hit his maiden Test ton for India in the recently concluded first game of the series with a patient 125 from 210 deliveries.
This innings adds to a highly productive year, which includes a dominant performance for India A during the tour of the English summer where he amassed 227 runs at an average of 75.66, including three half-centuries in four innings.
Last month, he continued his exploits with a century against Australia A, followed by a captain’s knock of 56 to secure a series victory.
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