The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, scheduled to begin on October 19. The new squad sees Shubman Gill appointed as the ODI skipper, with Shreyas Iyer named his deputy, marking several changes from India’s last tour Down Under in 2020-21. While established players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retain their places, the selectors have made key exclusions, dropping senior players in favor of new options and while some players already retired from either the format or international cricket.
12 players who were part of India’s 2020 ODI squad but missed out on the Australia tour 2025
1. Shikhar Dhawan: Unavailability due to retirement
Shikhar Dhawan is unavailable for selection as he announced his retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket in August 2024. While he was already being phased out of the ODI setup by the team management in favor of the younger opening combination of Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, his formal retirement confirmed his permanent absence. This transition allows the squad to focus entirely on building a strong, future-ready top order for upcoming ICC cycles.
2. Hardik Pandya: Workload management and injury
Hardik Pandya, one 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 Bumrah, his exclusion is a strategic decision focused purely on 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 spot has temporarily been filled by spin-all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who offer different skills in Australian conditions.
3. Manish Pandey: Dip in form and increased competition
Manish Pandey’s exclusion is a consequence of both inconsistent individual form and the intense competition for the middle-order batting slots. While a capable fielder, Pandey has failed to solidify a permanent place in the playing XI, frequently losing out to established players like Iyer and KL Rahul. The selectors’ interest in blooding new talent, exemplified by the inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy, further restricted Pandey’s pathway back into the side, pushing him significantly down the pecking order.
4. Mayank Agarwal: Surpassed by success of new openers
Mayank Agarwal, who served as a versatile batting option in the past, has found his path blocked entirely 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 on a stable top-order combination and not requiring his services in the middle-order, Agarwal could not find a place among the limited batting slots available in the 15-member touring party.
5. Sanju Samson: Keeper competition and role specificity
Despite being a popular choice among fans, Sanju Samson was overlooked for the wicketkeeper’s slot due to the selectors’ clear preference for a specific combination. The team has committed to KL Rahul as the primary keeper-batter, especially in ODIs, and has chosen the young and promising Dhruv Jurel as the second wicketkeeper, signaling a move to invest in Jurel’s potential. This leaves Samson on the outside, needing to perform consistently in domestic cricket to re-enter the consideration set.
6. T. Natarajan: Persistent injuries and fitness
T. Natarajan, the left-arm pacer who was a surprise package and a star performer during the 2020-21 tour, has been hampered by repeated injury setbacks in the years following that Australian tour. These persistent physical issues have prevented him from maintaining the fitness and bowling rhythm required for international cricket. With the fast-bowling unit already boasting plenty of high-quality options, Natarajan was unable to force his way back into contention for this specific tour.
7. Navdeep Saini: Fallen behind in the pace hierarchy
The right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini has faced similar challenges to Natarajan, primarily struggling with injuries and a subsequent dip in consistency. The Indian team’s fast-bowling stocks have grown exponentially, with Mohammed Siraj leading the attack and young speedsters like Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna being 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 spot among the limited pace battery slots.
8. Jasprit Bumrah: Strategic rest and workload management
The ace pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, has been rested for the series to manage his considerable workload following continuous participation in the Asia Cup 2025 and the ongoing Test series against the West Indies. His absence is purely a strategic decision by the team management and selectors to keep their premier fast bowler fresh, particularly 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, as the selectors have opted for Axar Patel, a similar left-arm spinning all-rounder who is also younger. The selectors preferred Axar’s recent impressive batting form and the variety provided by off-spinner Washington Sundar. This decision suggests a shift toward giving opportunities to younger, multifaceted spin options who can contribute in both batting and bowling departments.
10. Mohammed Shami: Injury concerns and forward planning
The veteran speedster, Mohammed Shami, was dropped due to recurring injury issues, specifically with his knee, following a long hiatus due to an ankle injury. At 35, the selectors chose to look toward the future by opting for younger pacers, Krishna and Rana, over Shami, who also lacked domestic match practice. 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 Chahal, has fallen down the pecking order and has been ignored across white-ball formats over the last two years. While Kuldeep Yadav remains the primary wrist-spin choice, the selectors preferred the off-spin, utility, and crucial batting depth provided by Sundar over Chahal. This change reflects the team’s strategy to maximize lower-order batting contributions and secure a balanced spin attack.
12. Shardul Thakur: Overlooked by emerging pacers
The medium pacer, Shardul Thakur, has found himself out of contention due to the strong emergence of other pacers like Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Rana and Krishna, who are now considered the frontline and backup options in the 50-over format. Thakur has not featured in an ODI since the 2023 World Cup, as the management now prefers faster, more potent options over his seam-bowling all-rounder.
