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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been recalled to India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia starting October 19, marking their return to international cricket after last featuring in the Champions Trophy final in March.
The ODI team will be led by Shubman Gill, who has replaced Rohit Sharma as captain, with Shreyas Iyer named as vice-captain.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the selection meeting, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, took place on Saturday in Ahmedabad, where India had just defeated West Indies in the opening Test by an innings and 140 runs.
There are five changes from the squad that lifted the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah are missing out. Hardik is recovering from a quadriceps injury, Pant has not yet fully recovered from a broken foot, and Bumrah has been rested. Jadeja was left out due to team balance, while Chakravarthy was not picked. Their places have been taken by Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“With regards to Jaddu [Jadeja], I mean look at the moment to take two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible. He is clearly in the scheme of things with how good he is, but there will be some competition for places,” Agarkar explained.
“At the moment we could only carry one and get some balance in the team with Washi [Washington Sundar] and Kuldeep there as well.”
Bumrah, however, will return for the five-match T20I series in Australia starting October 29. The only change to the T20I squad that won the Asia Cup is Hardik being replaced by Reddy, with Washington Sundar also included, making it a 16-member squad.
“We have already rested him for the one-day games. When we can manage his workload, we will do that,” Agarkar said about Bumrah. “Wherever you can give him a break, you will, because we all know how important he is.”
Agarkar hinted that Gill and Rohit are likely to open the batting in the ODIs, which may push Jaiswal out of the XI. He also clarified why Dhruv Jurel was picked ahead of Sanju Samson in the ODI squad.
“Sanju Samson bats at the top of the order,” Agarkar said. “Jurel usually bats lower down the order. KL bats there as well. You have seen how good a player Dhruv is. Again, you are looking at spots. I don’t think there is room at the top again. So, we are looking at guys who can fit in those spots.”
India will play ODIs on October 19, 23 and 25, followed by T20Is on October 29, 31, November 2, 6 and 8.
India’s ODI squad for Australia: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India’s T20I squad for Australia: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
