The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced two separate India A squads for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A in Kanpur, setting the stage for an intriguing contest. The series is designed to serve as a crucial preparatory platform for the senior side, who will face Australia in a three-match ODI series beginning on October 19. Notably absent from both squads are India’s key ODI stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who will not make an appearance despite earlier speculation. Their absence has led to the appointment of two different captains for the series.
The absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and the rise of dual captaincy
The announcement confirms the end of speculation regarding the return of Rohit and Kohli to competitive cricket through the India A series. Both players, who have been out of action since the conclusion of IPL 2025 in May, had their last outings for India during the Champions Trophy 2025 in March. This will be the first time they will don India’s white-ball colours since that tournament.
A significant detail is that both Kohli and Rohit have retired from Tests and T20Is, with ODIs being the only format they now play for the national side. While both were in contention for a comeback in the India A series, they are now expected to make a direct return for the senior ODI series against Australia in October. In their absence, the BCCI has implemented a dual captaincy model. Rajat Patidar, the IPL-winning captain, will lead the Indian A team in the first ODI, while young talent Tilak Varma will assume the captaincy for the final two matches. This decision allows the board to assess new leadership options and test emerging players.
India’s squad ODI composition against Australia and the Kanpur schedule
The BCCI has strategically named two different squads for the three-match series, providing opportunities to a wide pool of emerging talent. All the matches are scheduled to take place at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The first ODI, set for September 30, will see Patidar at the helm, leading a squad that forms the core of the side with players like Prabhsimran Singh, Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni and Ravi Bishnoi.
For the second and third ODIs, scheduled for October 3 and October 5 respectively, Varma will be the skipper, with Rajat Patidar serving as his vice-captain. The squad for the final two matches will also include players like Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, who are set to join the team after their commitments in the Asia Cup 2025 conclude. The article also mentions the absence of other regular players like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj, who were not picked for the series due to the start of the West Indies Test series on October 2.
India A squad for the 1st one-day match:
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 and 3rd one-day:
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.
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