The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, starting on October 19. The new team sees Shubman Gill appointed as ODI skipper, with Shreyas Iyer named his deputy, marking several changes from India’s last tour Down Under in 2020-2021. While established players like it Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli to retain their places, the selectors have made significant exclusions, with older players being dropped in favor of new options, while some players have already withdrawn from the format or international cricket.
12 players who were part of the 2020 Indian ODI squad but missed the 2025 Australian tour
1. Shikhar Dhawan: Unavailability due to retirement
Shikar Dhawan is not available for selection as he announced his retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket in August 2024. While he was already removed from the ODI line-up by the team management in favor of the younger opening combination of Gill and Yashasvi jaiswalhis formal retirement confirmed his permanent absence. This transition will allow the team to fully concentrate on building a strong, future-proof top order for the coming ICC cycles.
2. Hardik Pandya: Workload and Injury Management
Hardik Pandyaone of the most vital all-rounders in world cricket, is absent from the squad due to a recent leg injury (a quadriceps injury) sustained during the Asia Cup. Like jasprit bumrahhis exclusion is a strategic decision aimed solely at immediate workload management and ensuring his full recovery.
The selectors opted not to risk the fragile fitness of their premier pace bowling all-rounder for this series, prioritizing his readiness for bigger upcoming tournaments. His place has been temporarily filled by spin all-rounders Axar Patel And Washington Sundarwhich offer different skills in Australian conditions.
3. Manish Pandey: Dip in form and increased competition
Manish PandeyThe club’s exclusion is a result of both inconsistent individual form and intense competition for mid-table battlegrounds. Despite being a capable fielder, Pandey has failed to cement a regular place in the playing eleven, regularly losing to established players like Iyer and Kl satisfied. The selectors’ interest in infusing new talent, illustrated by the inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddyfurther restricted Pandey’s path back into the side, pushing him considerably lower in the pecking order.
4. Mayank Agarwal: Outdone by success of new openers
Mayank Agarwalwho has functioned as a versatile batsman in the past is completely blocked by the phenomenal success and stability of the current opening pair, Gill and Rohit, and the selection of Jaiswal as the backup opener. With the team settling for a stable top-order combination and not needing his services in the middle order, Agarwal could not find a place among the limited batting spots available in the 15-member touring party.
5. Sanju Samson: Goalkeeper competition and role specificity
Despite being a popular choice among fans, Sanja Samson was overlooked for the wicketkeeper’s slot due to the selectors’ apparent preference for a specific combination. The team has committed to this Kl satisfied as the main keeper-batsman especially in ODIs and has picked the young and promising players Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper, indicating a move to invest in Jurel’s potential. This leaves Samson on the outside and needs to perform consistently in domestic cricket to get back into consideration.
6. T. Natarajan: Persistent injuries and fitness
T.Natarajanthe left-arm pacer who was a surprise package and a star performer during the 2020-2021 tour has been hampered by repeated injuries in the years since that Australian tour. These persistent physical problems have prevented him from maintaining the fitness and bowling rhythm required for international cricket. With the fast bowling unit already having enough quality options, Natarajan was unable to re-enter the fray for this particular tour.
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7. Navdeep Saini: Falling behind in the pace hierarchy
The right arm pacer Navdeep Saini has faced similar challenges to Natarajan, mainly struggling with injuries and a subsequent dip in consistency. The fast bowling stock of the Indian team has grown exponentially Mohammed Siraj leading the charge and liking young speedsters Harshit Rana And Prasidh Krishna is identified as the primary backup options. Saini, despite his pace, has fallen behind these new contenders in the pace hierarchy and could not secure a place among the limited pace battery slots.
8. Jasprit Bumrah: Strategic management of rest and workload
The ace pacer, jasprit bumrahhas been rested from the series to manage his significant workload after continued participation in the series Asia Cup 2025 and the ongoing Test series against West Indies. His absence is purely a strategic decision by the team management and selectors to keep their key fast bowler fresh, especially considering his importance in upcoming major international tournaments and his history with back injuries.
9. Ravindra Jadeja: Selector’s preference for youth and variety
Ravindra Jadeja‘s exclusion came as a surprise, which the selectors opted for Axar Patela similar left-arm spinning all-rounder who is also younger. The selectors favored Axar’s recent impressive batting form and the variety the off-spinner offers Washington Sundar. This decision suggests a shift towards giving opportunities to younger, versatile spin options who can contribute in both the batting and bowling departments.
10. Mohammed Shami: Injury concerns and future planning
The experienced speed devil, Mohammed Shamifell due to recurring injury problems, especially with his knee, after a long layoff due to an ankle injury. At 35, the selectors opted to look to the future by opting for younger pacers, Krishna and Rana, over Shami, who also had no domestic match training. His omission signals a move to transition the pace attack by prioritizing the fitness and development of the next generation of fast bowlers.
11. Yuzvendra Chahal: Loss of form and new spin combination
The wrist spinner, Yuzvendra Chahalhas fallen down the pecking order and been ignored in the white-ball formats for the past two years. While Kuldeep Yadav remains the primary choice for wrist spin, the selectors preferred Sundar’s off-spin, utility and crucial batting depth over Chahal. This change reflects the team’s strategy to maximize lower-order batting contributions and ensure a balanced spin attack.
12. Shardul Thakur: Overlooked by emerging pacers
The mediocre pacer, Shardul thakurhas fallen out of contention due to the strong emergence of other pacers such as Siraj, Arshdeep SinghRana and Krishna, who are now considered as the frontline and backup options in the 50-over format. Thakur is not seen in any ODI since the 2023 World Cupas the management now prefers faster, more powerful options over its bowling all-rounder.
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