India will face Australia in a three-match ODI series. Optus Stadium will host the series opener on October 19, and the next two matches are scheduled to take place at Adelaide Oval and Sydney Cricket Ground. The BCCI announced India’s 15-member squad for the three matches on October 4 and also confirmed Shubman Gill’s appointment as the new captain of India’s ODI team. Here’s a look at India’s strongest playing XI for the three-match ODI series in Australia.
1. Shubman Gill (C) – World No. 1 ODI batter Shubman Gill will lead India in the three-match ODI series against Australia. He will also open the innings against the Men in Yellow. (Picture Credit: AFP)
2. Rohit Sharma – Former India captain Rohit Sharma is part of the ODI squad and will play as an opener. In 19 ODIs played so far against the Australian team in Australia, Rohit has scored a total of 990 runs. (Picture Credit: AP)
3. Virat Kohli – Batting superstar Virat Kohli is also picked for the ODI series in Australia, and he will bat at his usual No. 3 position. During the three matches in Australia, Kohli will have a chance to become the second-highest run-getter in ODIs. (Picture Credit: AFP)
4. Shreyas Iyer – Shreyas Iyer is the new vice-captain of India’s ODI team, and the right-handed batter from Mumbai is all set to bat at No. 4 in the upcoming three ODIs against the Men in Yellow. (Picture Credit: AFP)
5. KL Rahul (WK) – KL Rahul is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, and the 33-year-old cricketer from Karnataka in all likelihood will bat at No. 5 against the Men in Yellow. (Picture Credit: AFP)
6. Axar Patel – Axar is one of the two spin-bowling all-rounders picked for the ODI series in Australia, and he is all set to pip Washington Sundar, due to his experience in ODIs, for a place in the playing XI. (Picture Credit: AP)
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy – In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy is picked for the away series in Australia, and the SRH all-rounder is all set to make his ODI debut on October 19 in Perth. He made his Test debut as well at the same venue in November 2024. (Picture Credit: AP)
8. Harshit Rana – Harshit Rana was part of India’s Champions Trophy and Asia Cup winning team and the Delhi-based cricketer will play in the three-match ODI series against Australia as well. In addition to his bowling, Rana has make significant contribution with the bat. (Picture Credit: AP)
9. Kuldeep Yadav – Kuldeep is in red-hot form these days. He finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Asia Cup 2025. He will be India’s specialist spinner in the ODI series against Australia. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI)
10. Mohammed Siraj – Mohammed Siraj is back in India’s ODI team after more than a year, and he will lead the fast bowling attack in Australia. (Picture Credit: AFP)
11. Arshdeep Singh – Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is likely to pip Prasidh Krishna for a place in India’s playing XI for the upcoming series in Australia. (Picture Credit: AP)
