KL Rahul will captain the first two matches while Ravichandran Ashwin returns to the ODI squad for the Australia Series.

Ravichandran Ashwin returns to the ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia, starting on September 22. Regular captain Rohit Sharma and senior players Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav have been rested for the first two games. KL Rahul will lead the team in those two fixtures. The regulars return for the last game, which will be India’s final ODI before the World Cup.

India’s squad for the first two ODIs against Australia has been announced, with KL Rahul named captain and Ravichandran Ashwin making a return to the side.

The squad is as follows:

Batsmen: KL Rahul (c), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar

Regular captain Rohit Sharma and senior players Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav have been rested for the first two games.

The first ODI will be played on September 22 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.

India’s full squad for the third ODI against Australia has been announced, with Rohit Sharma returning to captain the side.

The squad is as follows:

• Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav

• All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur

• Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel (subject to fitness), R Ashwin, Washington Sundar

Regular captain Rohit Sharma and senior players Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav have all returned to the squad for the final game of the series.

The third ODI will be played on September 27 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

India have selected two off-spinning all-rounders, Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, in their squad for the third ODI against Australia, following Axar Patel’s injury. However, the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, is hopeful that Patel will return to fitness in time for the match.

We’ve been told that Axar should be okay,” Agarkar said in a press conference. “So we’ll make a decision on his availability once we know more. But having two off-spinning all-rounders in the squad gives the team management options if they need to go that way. If the need arises, we’ll look at it at that stage, but there’s no need to speculate right now or make any decisions right now because we’re hoping that Axar is fit.

Ravichandran Ashwin last played an ODI in 2022, and has been out of the 50-over setup for most of the past four years, playing in just two matches during that time. However, captain Rohit Sharma has said that he has been in talks with Ashwin and that he remains in contention for a place in the ODI team. Sharma reiterated this point again on Monday.

Captain Rohit Sharma has explained why Ravichandran Ashwin has been recalled to the ODI squad, despite not playing an ODI since 2022.

With guys like Ashwin, having time on the ground is not so much of a concern,” Sharma said. “He has a lot of experience, both in Tests and ODIs. He’s also been playing Test cricket consistently, so we know he’s in good form. We’re just hoping to get him back up to speed in ODIs, and the games against Australia will give us a chance to do that.

KL Rahul has been elevated to the captaincy role for the first two ODIs against Australia after Shreyas Iyer picked up a late back injury.

Iyer had recovered from a stress fracture on his back and surgery, but picked up spasms in the back which caused him to miss most of the Asia Cup. Rahul, meanwhile, cemented his spot in the middle order.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar is hopeful that Iyer will be fully fit for the rest of the ODI series.

He got through his program fine in the Asia Cup final, and that’s why he’s been picked,” Agarkar said. “We’re hopeful he’ll get through these games. He’s worked incredibly hard to get to this stage and be fit. And fortunately for him it wasn’t a massive injury he picked up, but he did pick up a niggle. He’ll have to get through these games, and we’re hopeful that he will because at the moment he’s fine.