Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma leave for Australia ODI series, Gautam Gambhir stays behind

They were accompanied by Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and pacers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.

Published: Wednesday,Oct 15, 2025 07:54 AM GMT+05:30

Kunal Kothari

ODI Series Schedule and Format Specialists

https://x.com/Trend_VKohli/status/1978289883807379482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1978289883807379482%7Ctwgr%5E6bed777a800891a881d8aade0ee44d871314bae7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=h

India will open the series in Perth on Sunday, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney. The tour will continue with a five-match T20 International series, with players specialized in the shorter format expected to depart on October 22. The T20 series is set to start on October 29.

The upcoming ODIs have generated discussions due to the status of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both retired from Test and T20 international cricket. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how the two experienced players perform in the 50-over format.

Gambhir on Experience and Focus

https://x.com/45__rohan/status/1978324744681218102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1978324744681218102%7Ctwgr%5E6bed777a800891a881d8aade0ee44d871314bae7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=http

After India’s 2-0 Test series sweep over the West Indies on Tuesday, Gambhir spoke about the upcoming ODIs. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the present rather than future tournaments. “The 50-over World Cup is still two and a half years away. It is very important to stay in the present. Obviously they are quality players. They are coming back. Their experience is going to be valuable in Australia,” he said.

Gambhir added that while the performance of Rohit and Kohli is under the spotlight, the priority is team success. “Hopefully those two guys can have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team we can have a successful series,” he noted when asked about their future in Indian cricket.

TL;DR

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have left for Australia to take part in the upcoming three-match ODI series starting October 19. They were joined by Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and support staff. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will travel later. The tour will also include a five-match T20I series starting October 29.