No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in the India A squad for Australia series
The hopes for an early return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the cricket ground have been dashed. The BCCI has named a 15-member India A squad for the white-ball series against Australia A at home. The Australia A Tour of India has been set as a prelude to the India Tour of Australia, scheduled in October. Australia A will play two multi-day matches before taking on the hosts in a three-match ODI series. Speculations were rife about the senior duo of Kohli and Rohit marking their much-awaited return in the home series. However, the speculations stand defied now that the India A squad for the Australia series has been confirmed.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missing from the India A squad for white-ball series against Australia A
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were last seen in action at IPL 2025, where Kohli ended an 18-year-long wait for a title victory with RCB. The seniors announced their Test retirement amid the IPL season, limiting their presence solely to the 50-over format. Their last appearance in the Indian Blues was noted at the ICC Champions Trophy in March earlier this year. The fans' wait for their favourites to take the field again, meanwhile, has taken another hit.
After the white-ball series against Bangladesh at home, scheduled in August ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, was deferred, the Indian audience pinned their hopes on the upcoming assignment against Australia. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli recently cleared their respective fitness tests, with the seniors having already started their training for the Australia Tour. The promptness of the fitness tests hinted at the possibility of the veterans taking the field for the India A white-ball series against Australia A at home before leaving for the Australia Tour.
However, the speculations have been dashed now that the India A squad for the ODI series has been announced. The squad for the opening fixture names Rajat Patidar as the captain of a 13-member group. The combination for the next two games, meanwhile, will welcome the likes of Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, all of whom are currently in the UAE for the Asia Cup 2025. Tilak Varma will take the captain's spot upon his return, with Patidar then shifting to the vice-captain's position in the 15-member squad.
Prior to the announcement of the squad for the three-match ODI series, the BCCI announced the India A squad for two unofficial Tests. Shreyas Iyer, who was recently and infamously snubbed from the Asia Cup squad, has been named the India A captain for the multi-day fixtures against Australia A. The three white-ball games will take place on September 30, October 3, and October 5, 2025, following the conclusion of the red-ball fixtures on September 26.
Earlier this week, a report had indicated that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could potentially sit out the India A fixtures, as the selection committee is not expected to compel them to play against the Australian side. A BCCI official clarified that the duo would participate in the matches only if they feel the need for some game time before the tour, while also emphasizing that both remain fully available for selection for the contest against Australia.
"See, it's highly unlikely that they will play the three India A games. No call has been taken on that and it will not be forced upon them either. Only if they need some game time, you could see them play one or even two games before the Australia ODIs. But nothing has been finalised yet. They are very much fit and available for the Australia ODIs," a senior had told a leading daily in the report.
The seniors are expected to be named in the India squad for the Australia Tour, scheduled later in October this year. It is yet to be seen whether the seniors can prove their ability to continue in the format until the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup. Reports around the marquee tournament strongly hint at the BCCI's plan to trigger a transition in the ODI setup to prepare for the World Cup. The transition will be aimed at phasing out the veterans, who will be pushing 40 by the time of the tournament, two years from now. With a shadow cast over their future, the seniors will be required to deliver defining performances on the Australia Tour.
India A squad for the 1st one-day match: Rajat Patidar (Captain), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Priyansh Arya, Simarjeet Singh.
India A squad for 2nd and 3rd one-day: Tilak Varma (Captain), Rajat Patidar (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh.
