Former India batter Sanjay Bangar announced his proposed India XI for the first of a three-match ODI series against Australia, set to begin on October 19, 2025, at Perth’s Optus Stadium, sparking debate by omitting Kuldeep Yadav, the Asia Cup 2025’s leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps. Bangar’s lineup prioritises a balanced squad led by ODI captain Shubman Gill and veteran Rohit Sharma as openers, followed by Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and wicketkeeper KL Rahul.
The team includes spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and pacers Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana, aiming for a mix of experience and youth ahead of a high-stakes series following India’s Champions Trophy triumph in March.
Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion has raised eyebrows, given his stellar form in the Asia Cup, where his wrist-spin dismantled opposition lineups, including a match-defining performance in the final against Pakistan. Bangar’s preference for Axar and Sundar, both offering batting depth, suggests a strategy tailored to Perth’s pace-friendly conditions, potentially sidelining Kuldeep’s spin prowess.
The decision aligns with India’s experimentation under Gill’s leadership, as the team transitions toward the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit and Kohli, both retired from Tests and T20Is, remain pivotal in ODIs, with Gill endorsing their inclusion for their match-winning experience. “There are very few players in the world with such skill, quality, and experience,” Gill said, affirming their value during a recent Test series against the West Indies.
The series marks Rohit and Kohli’s first international outing since the Champions Trophy, fuelling speculation about their longevity. Fans on X expressed mixed reactions, with some, like @CricFanIndia, criticising Kuldeep’s snub as “baffling” given his 7.25 economy rate in T20Is and ODIs this year, while others supported Bangar’s pace-heavy approach for Australian conditions.
India’s travel to Perth was marred by logistical issues, with flight delays due to weather stranding the squad in Dubai for six hours, raising concerns about fatigue ahead of the opener. Australia, coming off a 3-2 T20I series loss to India, will rely on their pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood to exploit home conditions.
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Bangar’s XI reflects a strategic gamble, balancing all-rounders with a potent pace attack, but Kuldeep’s absence has drawn scrutiny, especially after his Asia Cup heroics. As India aims to build on recent successes, the series will test Gill’s captaincy and the veterans’ form, with fans eagerly awaiting whether this lineup can outmanoeuvre Australia’s formidable side. The second and third ODIs, scheduled for October 22 and 25 in Melbourne and Sydney, will further shape India’s roadmap toward the 2027 World Cup, with Kuldeep’s potential return a focal point.
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