The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced two separate India A squads for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A in Kanpur, but notable absentees are India’s white-ball captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli.
The series, which begins ahead of the senior team’s three-match ODI series against Australia from October 19, was seen as a potential platform for both stalwarts to regain match fitness. Speculation had been high that Rohit, who last played in the IPL 2025 for Mumbai Indians, might feature for India A to prepare for the Australia challenge. Kohli too was expected to return via this route. However, both are now set to rejoin directly for the senior side’s ODI series.
This marks the first time Rohit and Kohli will play one-day internationals since leading India to victory in the Champions Trophy 2025. Post that tournament, the duo stepped back from Test cricket, with Shubman Gill taking over the red-ball captaincy and guiding India to a hard-fought 2-2 draw in England.
India A Leadership for the Series
For the first ODI, Rajat Patidar will captain India A, with a squad featuring young talents like Prabhsimran Singh, Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, and Ravi Bishnoi.
In the second and third ODIs, Tilak Varma will lead the side, with Patidar as vice-captain. The squad will also see the addition of Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, maintaining a balance of promising youngsters and proven performers.
Squads in Detail
- India A squad for 1st ODI: Rajat Patidar (C), 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 & 3rd ODIs: Tilak Varma (C), 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.
The series will be crucial in testing India’s bench strength as well as grooming young talent ahead of the senior squad’s challenges.
