India squad announcement for Australia Tour Highlights: Rohit Sharma removed from ODI captaincy, Shubman Gill takes over

That bring us to the end of the live coverage of the India's squad announcement for the Australia tour. The series gets on the way from 19th October. Keep an eye on Hindustan Times' live coverage of all the action to find out how this new look Indian side fares down under.

The name of Shreyas Iyer for the leadership core was floating around for quite sometime. He has done brilliantly as a captain in the IPL. He is the only captain to have taken three different franchises to the final, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings. His credentials as a natural leader are well proven and his elevation to the new role establishes him as an important part of the ODI leadership core.

India are going with only speicalist wrist spinner in their squad, Kuldeep Yadav. This might narrow the scope of developing a second attacking option in the spin department. In the matches after the Australia tour, India might look to groom a second spinner, who can take up the onus of the form or fitness of Kuldeep wobbles ahead of the 2027 WC.

The absence of Hardik Pandya and the subsequent inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy allows India to develop their bench strength. In Reddy, they get a player, who can be a like for like replacement for Hardik, if ever the need arises.

Tilak Varma was instrumental in India winning the Asia Cup 2025. His knock in the final was one to remember for a long time. Given his performance under pressure many might have thought that he would be in the plans for the 2027 WC. However, given the packed middle order, it was difficult to find him a spot in the ODI squad. Ajit Agarkar said that players like Varma and Abhishek Sharma have definitely staked their claims to be in the ODIs, but at present they are not part of the plans. However, there will be matches after the Australia tour and they might get a chance as a part of the management's rotation policy.

When asked about the topic, Ajit Agarkar said that Shubman Gill has been the vice-captain of the side for while. While the England tour might have been influential, it was not the only factor. The fact they are planning for the future and wanted to give the new captain enough time before the 2027 ODI WC was the real reason the drove the decision.

Mohammed Siraj was not a part of the squad that played in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, he makes a comeback to the squad that will be travelling to Australia. Siraj recently impressed with his show in the first innings of the ongoing first Test between India and West Indies.

While there were plenty of changes and talking points from the ODI squad, the T20I squad announced is mostly unchanged from the Asia Cup 2025. The only change is a forced one. Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the Australia tour due to injury, and it is Nitish Kumar Reddy who has been included in the side in his place.

India are to play three ODIs against Australia -

19th October, 2025: 1st ODI at Perth
23rd October, 2025: 2nd ODI at Adelaide
25th October, 2025: 3rd ODI at Sydney

This will be followed by a five match T20I series -

29th October, 2025: 1st T20I at Canberra
31st October, 2025: 2nd T20I at Melbourne
2nd November, 2025: 3rd T20I at Hobart
6th November, 2025: 4th T20I at Gold Coast
8th November, 2025: 5th T20I at Brisbane

Mohammed Shami played his last international match for India in the 2023 WC final. Since then he has been out due to injury. There was no discussion around him for the ODI or T20I series against Australia. At 35, he remains to be out of the Indian scheme of things. One might easily question the fact whether is it over for the pacer?

Abhishek Sharma was a revelation for India in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025. He turned to be the decisive factor in favour of India in most of the games with his aggressive and positive batting.

Given the form he has shown in the last couple of weeks, many expected that Abhishek Sharma might earn an ODI call. However, the problem of plenty is what keeps him away from the squad. With Rohit and Gill slated to open, the management decided that Yashasvi Jaiswal is a better option to be the reserve opener. Thus, Abhishek Sharma still awaits an ODI call.

With the captaincy now removed, Rohit Sharma's journey to the 2027 ODI WC would largely depend on his form. The current selection committee has made it clear with their calls that they will not shy away from taking the bold decisions. With Yashasvi Jaiswal showing great temperament in the longest format, and his presence as a reserve opener in the squad that travels that to Australia, Sharma's place at the top is not fully insured.

Jaspirt Bumrah has been excluded from the ODI squad for the Australia tour, while he is in the T20I side. Notably, India are planning for the ODI WC with the leadership change, however, they have to play the T20I WC in 2026. The ODI WC is still a couple of years. So, the management is looking to play Bumrah in the games important for the build up of the 2026 WC. On the other hand, he has been in action since the Asia Cup and is playing in the ongoing Test series against West Indies, too. As a result to manage his workload, Bumrah might have been rested from the ODIs in Australia.

While Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are travelling for the Australia tour. Ravindra Jadeja has been excluded from the side. The question arises whether it is over for him in the ODIS? Speaking about this, Ajit Agarkar cleared the air. Said that Jadeja is clearly in BCCI's plans for the 2027 WC, however it was a strategic decision to not take him for the Australia tour.

The young Indian opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal has impressed everyone with his exploits in Test cricket. Even though there were talks about his ODI chances, the presence of Rohit Sharma at the top makes it difficult. When the question was asked, Ajit Agarkar also repeated the same.

At present, the Indian management is not prepared to look beyond Rohit Sharma as the ODI opener. However, there will be games, where India rotate the squad. Yashasvi Jaiswal might get a chance to prove himself in those matches, and needs to be at his best to stake his claim in the future.

India squad announcement live Updates: With these changes being implemented in the ODI team two years before the World Cup, what can be expected is a year or two of the Indian team preparing to get accustomed to being led by Shubman Gill. He has enjoyed a strong start to his Test tenure, and will be hoping for the same in the ODIs – and beyond that, long-term success in the format as he grows into his prime. Can the Indian team grow along with him?

India squad announcement live Updates: While the focus will be on Rohit and Gill, it is Kohli's return to international cricket which piques just as much interest. He will be going to Australia, a country he loves batting in – but according to Agarkar, the 2027 World Cup is something which hasn't been confirmed with any certainty as something he is looking at just yet. This series will be important for a look into his psyche, somewhat.

India squad announcement live Updates: This is a pretty substantial decision, one which has come out of the blue even if it was something that was somewhat expected at this point. Harbhajan Singh, Parthiv Patel, and others react.

India squad announcement live Updates: As the dust settles, what this means is that Shubman Gill is now captain in Tests and ODIs both, and vice-captain in T20I cricket to boot. It's a lot of burden for a young man to shoulder, and while this is not a player who lacks in confidence, there is certainly an argument to be had that beginning to specialise a little bit in the team's leadership will only help India become more efficient.

But Ajit Agarkar is of the belief that having the same player communicate with the coach in that capacity, across formats, is how the team is served best. Guess it is just a matter of waiting and seeing if that is the case.

India squad announcement live Updates: He was only ODI captain for about 4 years, but it was still four very memorable years in charge as he led some of India's fondest and most brutal recent moments. A trip back (not too far) through time.

India squad announcement live Updates: The next question becomes what India's combination will be when they visit down under.

The top 5 is set: Gill and Rohit to open, Kohli at three, Iyer at 4, and KL Rahul at 5. It has what has succeeded, and what will continue to be the blueprint.

6 and 7 will likely see two all-rounders, with Nitish Kumar Reddy being one of them in Hardik Pandya's injury-induced absence, and the other being either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel, who adds flexibility to the batting.

In fact, both Axar and Washi could play, extending India's batting to 8, but this would come at the expense of Kuldeep Yadav. After this, three seamers will likely be the way to go down under, with Siraj, Krishna, and Arshdeep being the likely starters.

India squad announcement live Updates: Ajit Agarkar also explained that the number of ODI games India play in a calendar year being so low is also a reason why they want Shubman Gill to have time to acclimatise before the 2027 World Cup.

“It's also a format which is played the least now, so you don't get that many games to actually give the next guy or if there is going to be another guy, that much time to prepare himself or plan and we are two years away still, might look like a long time but we don't quite know how many one-day games we might play,” explained the selector.

India squad announcement live Updates: Ravindra Jadeja not being in the team is more to do with spinners being maxed out int erms of players in the team. Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel travelling.

"With regards to Jaddu, 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.

“He was there in the Champions Trophy squad, because we took those extra spinners with the conditions there, at the moment we could only carry one and get some balance in the team. With Washi and Kuldeep there as well and I don't think we are going to need more than that in Australia.”

India squad announcement live Updates: Harbhajan Singh says Shreyas Iyer is well-deserving of being in the leadership group after his success for India and his coming of age as a leader in the IPL.

India squad announcement live Updates: Ajit Agarkar explains that the decision to promote Shubman Gill was already the long-term plan, and not a reaction to the England series.

“He's been vice-captain in one-day cricket for a while now. It's not just the England series. That's always the plan. Whenever the next guy takes over, it ideally should be the vice-captain.”

“It doesn't always work out that way. But obviously, what he's shown in England were really good positive signs. We are very hopeful.”