A move signalling a new era for Indian cricket - the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named rising star Shubman Gill as the captain of the national ODI team for the upcoming three-match series against Australia. The announcement, made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, also sees the return of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the squad, blending young players with seasoned expertise as India gears up for the high-stakes tour Down Under.
The series, set to kick off on October 19 in Perth, followed by matches in Melbourne on October 22 and Sydney on October 26, marks Gill's first assignment as white-ball skipper in the 50-over format. At just 26, the Gujarat opener steps into the role after serving as vice-captain during India's triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign under Rohit. "This is a natural progression for Shubman, who has shown immense maturity both with the bat and in leadership," said a BCCI official. "With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, we're building a stable core around him while leveraging the wisdom of our veterans."
Rohit Sharma, who relinquished the ODI captaincy after guiding India to the 2023 World Cup final and the recent Champions Trophy glory, remains in the squad as an opener. The 38-year-old Mumbai stalwart, who retired from Tests and T20Is earlier this year, expressed his support for the transition. Beside him, Virat Kohli, 36, makes a eagerly anticipated comeback after a seven-month hiatus from international cricket. The former captain, known for his aggressive middle-order mastery, has been honing his skills in the nets and is expected to anchor the innings with his trademark intensity. Kohli's inclusion dispels rumours of an early exit from ODIs.
Shreyas Iyer, fresh off a stellar IPL season and a strong showing in the 2025 Champions Trophy where he amassed 243 runs, has been appointed vice-captain. The squad boasts a balanced mix: explosive openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and the wicketkeeping duo of KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel provide depth, while middle-order enforcers like Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy add all-round punch. The spin department features Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar, with the pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and the promising Harshit Rana. Absent are injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya and the rested Jasprit Bumrah, opening doors for uncapped talents like Reddy, who impressed in domestic circuits with his seam-bowling all-round abilities. Jurel, a breakout performer in the IPL, earns his maiden ODI call-up as a backup keeper-batsman.
