IND vs AUS: Why is Kuldeep Yadav not playing India vs Australia 1st ODI? Check India playing 11
In a big breaking news development, Team India are not playing their premier wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the first of the three-match ODI series against Australia being hosted at the Optus Stadium in Perth. After being crowned as the winners of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year, the Men in Blue are playing their first ODI match since that final against New Zealand. A lot has changed since that encounter as Shubman Gill has replaced Rohit Sharma as the new India ODI captain.
Why is Kuldeep Yadav not playing IND vs AUS 1st ODI?
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, newly appointed India ODI captain Shubman Gill revealed that leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is not part of the India playing 11 in this first ODI against Australia on Sunday. Incidentally, Kuldeep bowled amazingly in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final where he picked up two crucial wickets and gave away just 40 runs in his quota of 10 overs. He was also adjudged as the Most Valuable Player in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025, taking a total of 17 wickets from as many as 7 matches.
While talking about Kuldeep Yadav stats in ODIs, the chinaman bowler has picked up 181 wickets from 113 games at an economy of 4.99. On the other hand, the all-rounder trio of Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar have been included in the India playing XI for the IND vs AUS 1st ODI. It is a huge moment for Reddy as he makes his ODI debut for India at the very same venue in Perth where he played his first-ever Test match during the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
"We would have bowled first as well. It's all about getting mentally ready. We are in a good mental place. The practice sessions help. We have a great combination. Nitish Reddy makes his debut, we are going with three fast bowlers and three all-rounders," stated India ODI captain Shubman Gill.
Here's a look at #TeamIndia's Playing XI for the 1️⃣st ODI 👌
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2025
Nitish Kumar Reddy makes his ODI debut. 👍
Updates ▶ https://t.co/O1RsjJTHhM#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dWPlzUHqmu
India playing 11
Shubman Gill (c)
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
Axar Patel
KL Rahul (wk)
Washington Sundar
Nitish Reddy
Harshit Rana
Arshdeep Singh
Mohammed Siraj
India squad for the three ODIs against Australia
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna
