The 15-man Australian squad for the ODI series against India was revealed on Tuesday. The highly anticipated bilateral series will begin on October 19 and include the comeback of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc returned to the Australian ODI squad which will be led by Mitchell Marsh in the absence of Pat Cummins.
With his workload being carefully monitored ahead of the Ashes, Starc, who announced his retirement from T20 internationals last month, missed the home ODI series against South Africa in August following his return from the West Indies Test trip. His last ODI was against Pakistan in Adelaide in November 2024.
Along with Mitch Owen, Matt Short, and uncapped batter Matthew Renshaw, he is one of four players included in Australia’s ODI team from the 1-2 series loss to the Proteas.
The team has undergone two additional significant alterations. Due to his poor record, middle-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who was instrumental in Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup victory, has been dropped. In addition, Glenn Maxwell has been left out of the ODI and T20I squads because to his inability to recuperate from his wrist fracture in time. It is anticipated that he would rejoin the Big Bash League.
Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “We have named a squad for the ODI series and first two games of the T20 series as there will be some management through the back end of the series as individuals prepare for the summer through Sheffield Shield cricket.
“The majority of the T20 squad will remain together as it’s an important period in the build towards the World Cup next year, however we are trying to strike a balance to ensure we simultaneously prepare certain individuals for the Test series ahead.”
The first ODI is scheduled for October 19 in Perth, and the second and third games are scheduled for October 23 in Adelaide and October 25 in Sydney.
Australia ODI squad vs India: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
Cameron Green’s comeback to the ODI squad following an injury break has also been announced by Australia. The fast bowling all-rounder hasn’t been included in the T20I squad, though, as he is concentrating on getting ready for the Ashes, which will take place right after the white-ball series against India. In Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield game, the 26-year-old bowled for the first time since undergoing back surgery last year, taking one wicket in his four-over stint.
Josh Phillippe and Alex Carey, two explosive batters, were left off the team due to Inglis’s return.
Australia T20I squad vs India (first 2 games): Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
