Predicted India Playing XI, 1st ODI vs AUS: Rohit-Kohli return, Kuldeep Yadav vs Washington Sundar for one spot

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli set to return after eight-month long break, Team India shift focus to rare ODIs against Australia.

After a long eight-month gap, World No 1 ODI side India Cricket Team would return to the 50-over format against Australia on Sunday. The last time India played an ODI was back in March in the ICC Champions Trophy final. Since then, a lot of things have happened. Rohit Sharma isn’t the captain anymore. Instead, it is Shubman Gill who will make his ODI captaincy debut as India begin a new era. But for fans, it will be a moment to cheer as Rohit and Virat Kohli return after a long break since announcing their retirement from Tests. For Gill, though, the first challenge will be to take a call on Kuldeep Yadav’s spot in the India Playing XI for 1st ODI in Perth.

While ODIs are not currently in focus, Team India does not have the luxury to experiment too much. They are up against world champions Australia and India have three ODI specialists in the side — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. With three of them present and Gill as the new captain, the Top 4 is set with no room to tinker. KL Rahul is the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs. Hence, he slots right into No 5. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, India will want to go with Nitish Kumar Reddy, sealing the Top 6. The last five spots in the India Playing XI are the ones head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Gill can tinker with.

Rohit-Kohli return

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two stalwarts of India cricket, especially in ODIs, will return after their longest break. However, in the twilight of their careers, Ro-Ko will play more of a mentoring role. Rohit will have to adjust to a new role, not being the captain again, as Shubman Gill takes the mantle.

However, for both players, it will be about getting the monkey off their backs. The last time the two were in Australia was the last time both played Test cricket. Rohit had to drop himself after averaging 6.20. Kohli started with a hundred in Perth. But in the next seven innings, he averaged 12.14. Before the England tour, both called it a time on their Test careers. The ODIs, though, are different. Both are the undisputed kings of the format. If Kohli has the most number of centuries in ODIs, Rohit has the highest individual score. But with no competitive cricket for eight months, both are bound to be rusty.

Since the World Cup 2023 final, India have played only 14 ODIs and the two have played in 11 of them. While Kohli’s average dipped to 37.00 after a record-breaking 847-run World Cup, Rohit continued his new aggressive approach, striking at 117.69. Now, things are different. Even though Virat Kohli may not really have a competition for the role he plays, Rohit, without the captaincy immunity, may be forced to compete with Yashasvi Jaiswal. His younger Mumbai teammate can play with the same template and gets the advantage of being a left-hander.

Ro-Ko since World Cup 2023 final

The question is, how long will the two get before the World Cup 2027? As per BCCI Selection Committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, both are non-committal about the World Cup in South Africa. While others, including Dinesh Karthik and Abhishek Nayar, have offered different stories, neither is immune anymore. Rohit-Kohli will need to perform to stay ahead of the competition. Both had extended net sessions in Perth on the first two days.

Washington Sundar vs Kuldeep Yadav

With the Top 6 set and Axar Patel likely to come in at No 7 in the India Playing XI for 1st ODI, there is a selection dilemma. In fact, Gambhir will have a tough task on hand. With Kuldeep Yadav in great form, should he sacrifice his preferred all-rounder, Washington Sundar, in Perth?

Sundar offers batting depth. But in Kuldeep, India will look at a specialist spinner who can use his variety and extract some turn even from the Perth pitch. Since Asia Cup 2025, Kuldeep has bagged 29 wickets in 11 innings across T20Is and Tests at an average of 13.51 and a strike rate of 19.7. Although ODI is a different format, it will be a tough job for Gambhir to keep him benched. Sundar may be benched, instead.

Pace bowling combination

With no Jasprit Bumrah in the ODIs, India will look at another in-form pacer Mohd Siraj. While he did not make the Asia Cup squad, his heroics in England and against the West Indies at home will make him a favourite to start in the IND vs AUS 1st ODI. Against the West Indies, Siraj picked up 10 wickets in four innings, including a 4/40.

With Siraj set to return to the India Playing XI for the 1st ODI, Gill-Gambhir will need to take a call on the remaining two pacers. Arshdeep Singh, who did not get a lot of game time in Asia Cup, is likely to come back in with Bumrah missing. Arshdeep last played an ODI back in February 2025 against England.

For the other spot, it will be a shoot-off between Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. The Karnataka pacer was practising with the white ball during the IND vs WI Test series. While Krishna could be more effective with his pace and bounce, Gambhir could go with Rana for his blind trust in his batting abilities. If Kuldeep gets in, Rana is likely to get the nod to have slightly better batting depth in the IND vs AUS 1st ODI.

Predicted India Playing XI, 1st ODI

1. Shubman Gill (C)
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer (VC)
5. KL Rahul (WK)
6. Nitish Kumar Reddy
7. Axar Patel
8. Washington Sundar
9. Harshit Rana
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Arshdeep Singh

India ODI squad for Australia series

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.