India squad announced for Australia ODIs Highlights: Both Ashwin, Sundar make the cut as IND fret over Axar's injury

India squad announcement for Australia ODIs: Rohit and Kohli rested for opening two matches. KL Rahul to lead the in Rohit's absence.

India squad announcement for Australia ODIs Highlights: KL Rahul will be seen leading the Indian unit in the first two ODIs against Australia, which gets underway from September 22. Meanwhile, R Ashwin returns to the ODI set-up and will be with the team for all the three encounters. Senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been rested for the first two matches, before returning for the final encounter. Apart from them, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav have also been rested for the first two matches.  

India squad announcement for Australia ODIs Highlights(Getty)

The suspense over Axar Patel's fitness continues despite him being named for the third and final ODI. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar “hoped” that the all-rounder to  be fit till then. Axar sustained an injury during the Super 4 encounter against Bangladesh, which was a dead rubber. Washington Sundar was then inducted in the Asia Cup squad as a last minute replacement for the all-rounder. He is also part of the ODI series. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad has also been named for the first two ODIs and will most probably operate in the opening slot alongside Shubman Gill. Ishan Kishan. who has rather been preferred in the middle-order, should ideally continue at the number 4 or 5 position. 

If we look at recent performances, Mohammed Siraj produced a phenomenal show in the Asia Cup final on Sunday as Rohit and Co. demolished Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in Colombo. It was India's 8th Asia Cup title and the team will now look to carry forward the momentum in the 50-over encounters against Australia, after which they engage in two warm-up matches before proceeding to the World Cup.

Australia, on the other hand, head into the series after 3-2 drubbing against South Africa. Australia had announced an 18-member squad for the three ODIs on Sunday as key players return after recovering from their respective injuries.

Both India and Australia are among the favourites to win the World Cup, which gets underway from next month. Catch the highlights of India's squad announcement for Australia ODIs:

Follow all the updates here:

• Sep 18, 2023 09:46 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Rohit on Asia Cup triumph

  Rohit Sharma-led Team India enjoyed a superb outing in the Asia Cup. Apart from a narrow six-run defeat against Bangladesh, the Indian unit produced a commanding display. Sharing his thoughts on the Asia Cup campaign, Rohit said: “Important to remain neutral. Good performances keep the players in good mental space, keeps them confident. This is what we strive for. We don’t want to focus on one good performance, there’s another tournament too. We aren’t getting too ahead of ourselves. Keeping a balance is important. In World Cup, you have to maintain a good balance. My focus is to help this team maintain the good balance.”

• Sep 18, 2023 09:38 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Agarkar on Kuldeep's comeback

  “Have spent time with him in IPL. He’s guy with special skillset. Every guy needs to be shown faith and the Indian team management has done that and results are there. He’s a trump card (for India). Most teams are finding him a challenge. All of us are excited for what lies ahead.” - Ajit Agarkar said on Kuldeep Yadav’s comeback

• Sep 18, 2023 09:32 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: A look at Indian pacers

  Mohammed Shami didn't get much game time in the Asia Cup but will the management give Siraj a bit of rest after his phenomenal display and test the Aussie with the old combo of Bumrah and Shami?

  India have named Bumrah, Siraj, Shami and Prasidh Krishna in the first two encounters against Australia.

• Sep 18, 2023 09:14 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Ashwin returns after a long gap

  The last time R Ashwin featured in an ODI was back in January 2022.

  While he is India's leading figure in the red-ball format, it'll be interesting to see how the carrom-ball specialist makes use of these opportunities.

• Sep 18, 2023 09:07 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: IND rest 4 key players

  If we look at the squad four key players have been rested for the 1st two ODIs.

  Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav.

• Sep 18, 2023 09:05 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Why Gaikwad?

  Since Rohit Sharma is not available for the first two ODIs, hence Ruturaj Gaikwad gets a chance and he could be seen opening the innings.

  Although Ishan Kishan too can open but with him being preferred in the middle-order role, he is likely to remain there.

• Sep 18, 2023 09:01 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Building bench strength

  Rohit Sharma emphasises on building bench strength.

  "We try our best to play everyone we pick in the squad. But we won't be able to build the bench strength if we keep playing the same XI. 

  “There are 11 matches in the World Cup, so we've to take a note of that.” 

• Sep 18, 2023 08:58 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Rohit on Ashwin comeback

  Ashwin has been playing consistently in Tests. He has got lot of experience. It is not about his game time, guys like him are always in mind and games against Australia will give us the answer where he stands: Rohit Sharma on Ashwin's comeback

• Sep 18, 2023 08:46 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Squad for the 3rd & final ODI

  Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya, (Vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel*, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj

• Sep 18, 2023 08:46 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: ‘Hoping Axar Patel is fit’

  “We are hoping Axar Patel is fit for the third encounter. R Ashwin and Washington Sundar are also included for the third ODI.” - Ajit Agarkar

• Sep 18, 2023 08:43 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Squad for 1st two matches

  KL Rahul (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, R Ashwin, and Washington Sundar

• Sep 18, 2023 08:32 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: A glance at Ashwin's stats in WC

  Ashwin has played 10 World Cup matches, in which he has claimed 17 wickets at an average of 25. 

• Sep 18, 2023 08:30 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Saba Karim on Ashwin

  “I hope so." Saba Karim's response when asked about Ashwin's chances to returning to India's ODI set-up.  

• Sep 18, 2023 08:29 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Squad to be announced shortly

  As we move close towards the squad announcement, former India wicketkeeper and ex-selector Saba Karim says it's a great opportunity for the team to try out one or two more players before the World Cup.

• Sep 18, 2023 08:12 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: IND to assemble in Mohali

  As per reports, the Indian unit will assemble in Mohali, the venue of the 1st ODI on September 20, two days prior to the series opener.

• Sep 18, 2023 08:07 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: IND vs AUS schedule

  The India vs Australia series gets underway from September 22. Here's a look at the fixture and the venues:

  1st ODI: September 22 in Mohali

  2nd ODI: September 24 in Indore

  3rd ODI: September 27 in Rajkot

• Sep 18, 2023 07:54 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Siraj makes a loud statement

  India utilised Mohammed Siraj over Mohammed Shami in the Asia Cup and the pacer surely lived upto the expectations.

  While the buzz was mostly around Jasprit Bumrah's sensational comeback, Siraj's breathtaking show in the Asia Cup final helped him make a loud statement about his spot in the XI.

• Sep 18, 2023 07:38 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Wasim Akram calls the series ‘unnecessary’

  While India and Australia are all set to engage in a three-match series, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram called the series “unnecessary”.    

  Sharing his thoughts on Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup said: “There are different venues and traveling in India… it takes a day (between every match). You need to preserve energy before the World Cup. I don't know why they are playing three ODIs. It is probably done a long time ago, but it was a bit unnecessary. You don't want to be tired before a mega-tournament where you are favourites at home. If you want some more players in the squad, you can play those in the three ODIs against Australia.”

• Sep 18, 2023 07:19 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Dress rehearsal before World Cup     

  The upcoming three-match series against Australia serves India the perfect platform to make final assessment.

  After the conclusion of the Australia series, India will engage in two warm-up fixtures before kicking-off their World Cup campaign against the Kangaroos in Chennai.

• Sep 18, 2023 07:04 PM IST

  India squad announcement live update: What Rohit told about Ashwin

  As India fret's over Axar Patel's injury, we might see Ravichandran Ashwin making a comeback to the ODI fold. Rohit during the post-match press conference after the Asia Cup final mentioned that "Ashwin is in the line" and quickly added that he is in touch with the carrom-ball specialist.

• Sep 18, 2023 06:53 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Injury woes mount for AUS

  While Australia have announced a 18-member squad, the Kangaroos are grappling with fresh injury concerns that too barely three weeks before the World Cup.

  All-rounder Aaron Hardie will be traveling with the Australian unit to India as cover for Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis, both of whom picked up niggling injuries during the team's tour of South Africa.

• Sep 18, 2023 06:33 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: AUS name 18-member squad

  Meanwhile, Australia have already announced their squad for the upcoming ODIs. Key players such as Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc return to the team.

  AUS squad for IND ODIs: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

• Sep 18, 2023 06:21 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: What happened to Axar

  Axar Patel took a few hit in the dead rubber against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage but continued to play despite the pain.

  Shubman Gill, who had scored a ton in that match, had informed that it didn't look serious and called the pain temporary. However, Washington Sundar was then flown to Colombo as last moment reinforcement.  

  As per the information available Axar is dealing with an injury on his left quadriceps.

• Sep 18, 2023 06:03 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: What happened to Shreyas 

  Shreyas Iyer made a return to action at the Asia Cup 2023 after a long injury lay-off. However, he was forced out of action after a couple of matches due to back spasm.

• Sep 18, 2023 05:45 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: What we know so far

  Rohit Sharma after winning the Asia Cup had confirmed that Shreyas Iyer has recovered 99 percent. 

  Meanwhile, Axa Patel may miss the first two ODIs against Australia.

• Sep 18, 2023 04:09 PM IST

  India squad announcement live updates: Hello and welcome!

  Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India's squad announcement for the three-match series against Australia. The squad is likely to be released at 08:30pm in the evening. Stay tuned for all the updates on the same.