Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are set to return to India’s ODI setup after being named in the squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has also confirmed the T20I squad, with Shubman Gill leading the ODI side and Shreyas Iyer taking charge of the shortest-format team.
The three-match ODI series will begin on September 27, while the five-match T20I series is scheduled to start on October 6. The selections come at a crucial stage in India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the team management continuing to assess its combination ahead of the global tournament.
Gill to Lead ODI Team, Rahul Named Vice-Captain
Shubman Gill has been appointed captain of the ODI team, while KL Rahul will serve as his deputy. Rahul replaces Shreyas Iyer, who led India in the previous ODI assignment against England.
The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is the biggest talking point from the ODI selection. Both senior batters have been included in the 15-member squad and are expected to bring considerable experience to a side that also features several younger players.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have also been included. Jaiswal returns after missing the England ODI series, having previously featured in India’s matches against Afghanistan.
Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj are also back in the ODI setup, adding experience to the batting, bowling and all-round departments.
The ODI squad includes:
- Shubman Gill — captain
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- KL Rahul — vice-captain
- Dhruv Jurel
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Prasidh Krishna
- Gurnoor Brar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Auqib Nabi
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Naman Dhir
Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi Receive Maiden Call-Ups
Punjab batter Naman Dhir and Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi have earned their maiden call-ups to India’s ODI squad.
Nabi was previously part of India’s Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka but did not make his international debut. His selection for the West Indies ODIs gives him another opportunity to enter the senior international setup.
Dhir’s inclusion reflects the selectors’ interest in expanding India’s pool of white-ball batting options. His performances in domestic cricket have earned him a place alongside established names such as Rohit, Kohli, Gill and Rahul.
The presence of new players in the squad is also significant because India are managing several overlapping commitments. The selectors have had to balance the requirements of the West Indies series with the upcoming Japan T20I and Asian Games campaign.
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Nitish Kumar Reddy Moved From Asian Games Squad
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was initially selected for the Asian Games, has been withdrawn from that squad and will instead feature in the ODI series against the West Indies.
His inclusion gives India another seam-bowling all-round option in the 50-over format. Reddy’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball provides flexibility to the team combination, particularly in conditions where India may prefer an additional pace option.
The change is part of a broader reshuffle caused by the scheduling overlap between the West Indies series and the Asian Games. Several regular white-ball players will participate in the continental event, meaning the ODI and T20I squads have been constructed differently.
Rishabh Pant Misses Out on White-Ball Squads
Rishabh Pant has not been selected for either the ODI or T20I series against the West Indies. Dhruv Jurel has instead been named as the second wicketkeeper in the ODI squad.
Pant will lead the Rest of India team in the upcoming Irani Cup, where the side will face Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir. His absence from the white-ball squads means Jurel, KL Rahul and the selected T20I wicketkeepers will take on greater responsibility during the upcoming assignments.
The decision also gives the selectors an opportunity to assess Jurel in the ODI setup. He has already been regarded as a promising wicketkeeping-batting option and will now be part of a squad containing several senior players.
Hardik Pandya has also not been included in either of India’s squads for the West Indies series.
Shreyas Iyer to Lead T20I Side
Shreyas Iyer will return as India’s T20I captain after being replaced by KL Rahul as the ODI vice-captain.
The T20I squad contains many players who were initially selected for the Asian Games. Iyer will lead a group featuring Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh.
Tilak Varma has been named vice-captain, while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the two wicketkeeping options. Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also been selected, continuing his rapid rise in the domestic and franchise cricket circuit.
The T20I squad is:
- Shreyas Iyer — captain
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Ishan Kishan — wicketkeeper
- Sanju Samson — wicketkeeper
- Tilak Varma — vice-captain
- Shivam Dube
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prince Yadav
- Mayank Yadav
The selection includes a mix of established T20I players and younger names. Mayank Yadav returns to the squad after missing the Afghanistan T20I series, while Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provide additional emerging talent.
Varun Chakaravarthy Ruled Out of Japan T20I and Asian Games
Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the upcoming Japan T20I and the Asian Games because of a side strain.
The spinner has been replaced by Vipraj Nigam in the updated squad. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s move to the ODI team has also resulted in a revised Asian Games group.
The updated India squad for the Japan T20I and Asian Games includes:
- Shreyas Iyer — captain
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson — wicketkeeper
- Ishan Kishan — wicketkeeper
- Shivam Dube
- Tilak Varma — vice-captain
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Arshdeep Singh
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Yash Thakur
- Vipraj Nigam
The Japan T20I will be played on September 22, before India begin their Asian Games campaign. The Asian Games squad includes several players who will also be involved in the T20I series against the West Indies.
West Indies Series Schedule Announced
India’s home white-ball series against the West Indies will begin with three ODIs.
The ODI schedule is:
- September 27 — first ODI, Thiruvananthapuram
- September 30 — second ODI, Guwahati
- October 3 — third ODI, New Chandigarh
The five-match T20I series will then take place at the following venues:
- October 6 — first T20I, Lucknow
- October 9 — second T20I, Ranchi
- October 11 — third T20I, Indore
- October 14 — fourth T20I, Hyderabad
- October 17 — fifth T20I, Bengaluru
The series will give India an opportunity to assess players across formats while managing the demands of the Asian Games and other international commitments.
India’s ODI Preparation Gains Importance
The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli adds considerable attention to India’s ODI campaign. Their inclusion also comes as the team begins building towards the 2027 World Cup.
Gill will continue to lead the side, while the presence of Rahul, Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja gives the team a strong core of experienced players. At the same time, the inclusion of Jaiswal, Ruturaj, Jurel, Reddy, Dhir and Nabi indicates that the selectors are continuing to develop depth.
The West Indies series could therefore serve two purposes: providing valuable international match practice to senior players and offering younger cricketers an opportunity to establish themselves in the ODI setup.
With the squads now confirmed, attention will turn to the final playing combinations, the management of players involved in multiple competitions and India’s preparations for the long-term 50-over calendar.