Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma set to play Australia ODI series as squad to be announced soon: Report

In a major update ahead of India's white-ball tour of Australia, talismanic batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are reportedly set to play the ODI series. The two players have retired from Tests and T20Is, and there have been conjectures about their future in the ODI format.

As reported by Cricbuzz, both Kohli and Rohit are set to be picked in the ODI squads, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expected to announce the squad on Saturday, October 4. 

India will be touring Australia for eight white-ball games with three ODIs and five T20Is. The ODIs will be played first from October 19, followed by the next two games on October 23 and 25. The T20I series will kick off on October 29 and will last till November 8. The T20I squad is also likely to be announced alongside the ODI side.

Kohli and Rohit have been out of action for India since winning the Champions Trophy 2025. Kohli had scored 218 runs in the tournament with a century and two fifties. Rohit had



made 180 runs with his match-winning 76 in the final against New Zealand, being the major highlight.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant will be unavailable for the white-ball series due to their injuries, PTI reported. Hardik picked up a quadriceps injury and missed the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, while Pant suffered a foot fracture during the England Test series.

Meanwhile, India are set to closely examine the workload of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Test captain Shubman Gill. Both players were part of the Asia Cup and are part of the two-match Test series against the West Indies. With the South Africa home Test series lined up in November and a hectic travel schedule during the Australia series, the duo could be rested. Moreover, if the second Test against West Indies, starting on October 10, runs till the distance of five days and conclude by October 14, the Australia series could be way too early for them considering they are regulars in all three formats.