India – A new era begins for Indian cricket as Shubman Gill takes over as ODI captain, following his recent appointment as Test captain. Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting October 19.
The squads were announced ahead of India’s busy limited-overs tour of Australia. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the ODI side after retiring from Tests and T20Is. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the ODIs, while Yashasvi Jaiswal makes a comeback. In the T20I series, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team, with Gill as his deputy. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been included in the T20I squad, with Hardik Pandya missing due to injury.
Long-Term Planning for the 2027 World Cup
The appointment of Gill as ODI captain is part of India’s long-term strategy ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized the importance of planning given the sporadic ODI schedule:
“We’ve got to start looking at where the next World Cup is. It might look far away, but the last ODI we played was in March 2025, and the next one is in October 2025. The schedule makes preparation challenging.”
Agarkar added that having three different captains across formats adds complexity for coaches and selectors. Gill’s leadership across formats is intended to provide continuity, especially as India looks ahead to the marquee event.
A Packed Schedule for Gill
Gill’s upcoming months will be intense. He is currently leading India in a two-Test series against West Indies (ending October 14), followed by three ODIs against Australia (October 19, 23, 25) and a five-match T20I series (October 29–November 8), in which he serves as vice-captain. India then hosts South Africa for a multi-format series from November 14 to December 19.
“Hopefully there’s no burnout. He’s still young, and we saw what he did in England under immense pressure,” said Agarkar.
Team Balance and Player Management
Agarkar addressed concerns over Ravindra Jadeja’s exclusion from the ODI squad, stating it was a matter of team balance rather than a reflection of his ability:
“At the moment, we could only carry one left-arm spinner along with Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav. Jaddu remains a key player, but in a short series, we can’t accommodate everyone.”
Regarding Bumrah’s workload, Agarkar confirmed that the pacer has been rested for ODIs but will be part of the T20I squad. The BCCI will continue to manage senior players’ workloads carefully to minimize injuries while maintaining team performance.
Squad Overview
ODIs vs Australia:
- Captain: Shubman Gill
- Vice-Captain: Shreyas Iyer
- Key Returns: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma
- Rested: Jasprit Bumrah
- Comeback: Yashasvi Jaiswal
T20Is vs Australia:
- Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
- Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill
With Gill now leading India in both Tests and ODIs, the stage is set for a new leadership era and a strategic build-up toward the 2027 ODI World Cup.