RO- KO back as India start plans for the 2027 World Cup with a crucial series down under.

As the debate of the Indian captaincy finally starts to settle, the Indian team kick starts what would be a rather extended limited overs season at home. But the first part of that extended leg is a 3 match ODI series against Australia in their own den. This will be the first assignment in Australia since that epic series in 2020/21.

The series marks the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who make an international return after 7 long months since the Champions Trophy final. Both have an outstanding record against Australia and their return on the shores has bought back the excitement in fans all over.  Both Rohit and Kohli are surely in India’s plans for the 2027 world cup and the more they play, the more runs are sure to be scored, especially after repeated failures in the test series last year.

The rest of the team, however, looks balanced. With all rounders like Sundar, Nitish Reddy, and Axar Patel and Siraj making a comeback in the ODI side, he along with Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh form a good side that would give the kangaroos a run for their money. The batting has been the backbone like always and the top 5, Gill, Rohit, Kohli, KL Rahul and the return of Shreyas Iyer look as potent as they can get. 

As far the hosts are concerned. They are dealing with a host of injuries. All-rounder Cameron Green has been ruled out of the series with a side soreness. Marnus Labuschagne has been roped in as his replacement. This fresh injury, however, has been diagnosed as 'low grade' and Cricket Australia has taken the precautionary route given his importance to Australia's Ashes plans.

Adam Zampa, Jos Inglis and Alex Carey too will miss the first game, but even without them, Australia look a side that cannot be taken lightly ever. Starc, Hazelwood, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis are some of the bowlers who have been in good form lately and all in all, the series promises to be a cracking one that comprises 3 ODI’s and 5 T20’s. 

ODI series fixtures 

1st ODI - October 19 (Perth Stadium)

2nd ODI - October 23 (Adelaide Oval)

3rd ODI - October 25 (SCG)

T20I Series fixtures

1st T20I - October 29 (Manuka Oval)

2nd T20I - October 31 (MCG)

3rd T20I - November 2 (Bellerive Oval)

4th T20I - November 6 (Gold Coast Stadium)

5th T20I - November 8 (The Gabba)

Australia ODI Squad

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc.

2nd and 3rd ODI's only: Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis.

India ODI Squad

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.

Australia T20I squad (first two games):

 Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Ba or rtlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

India T20I Squad

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.