New Delhi: The future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODIs continues to be debated, but both are expected to travel to Australia for the three-match series starting October 19 in Perth. National selectors, however, may be forced to make changes to the squad due to fitness concerns or workload management.
The ODI squad will be finalized during the ongoing Test against the West Indies, though the announcement may come after the match. Hardik Pandya (quadriceps injury) and Rishabh Pant (recovering from a foot fracture) are unavailable, while Test skipper Shubman Gill, who recently played the Asia Cup and is now in a two-Test series, will also need careful management to avoid fatigue. Selectors may consider resting him from either ODIs, T20Is, or both.
Rohit and Kohli have been working hard following a seven-month international break since the Champions Trophy in March. Kohli scored a century against Pakistan and top-scored in the semi-final against Australia, while Rohit ended his lean patch with a match-winning knock against New Zealand in the final. There appears to be no reason to remove Rohit from his leadership role unless he wishes to focus solely on his batting.
Both players have retired from Tests and T20Is, making them single-format specialists, which has sparked debate over their longevity ahead of the 2027 50-over World Cup in South Africa. BCCI sources suggest no hasty decisions will be made, as India has only six ODIs this season—three in Australia and three at home against New Zealand. Current priorities remain the T20 World Cup early next year and maximizing WTC points from the four home Tests in 2025.
A hint of Kohli and Rohit’s inclusion came via an official promotional teaser released by broadcaster Jio Hotstar featuring their portraits. Scheduling is tight, with eight games (five T20Is included) in 19 days, involving at least seven internal flights. The last T20I is on November 9, followed by India’s first Test against South Africa in Kolkata from November 14.
Bumrah’s Workload:
Jasprit Bumrah is expected in both Tests against South Africa, even if he opts out of the Delhi game against West Indies. Selectors, however, may consider resting him from the white-ball series in Australia due to recent heavy workload and travel.
Gill’s Workload:
As ODI vice-captain, Shubman Gill may also be rested due to limited recovery time. There is only one day between the second and third ODIs (Adelaide and Sydney) and similar gaps in the T20I series, making travel and recovery challenging. If rested, India’s options to open alongside Rohit will be left-handers Abhishek Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both in good form.
Other Squad Considerations:
With Hardik Pandya unavailable, Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to fill the all-rounder spot, though Shivam Dube remains an option despite untested bowling in Australian conditions. For the second wicketkeeper slot, Sanju Samson—with an ODI strike rate near 100 and an average above 55—may edge out Dhruv Jurel, while KL Rahul continues as the primary keeper.
