Australia’s injury woes have intensified ahead of the first ODI against India. Josh Inglis and Adam Zampa will both be unavailable for selection, adding to a list of absentees that already includes Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green. The absence of these key players leaves the Australian side significantly weakened as they prepare for the three-match ODI series against India. Inglis, who was sidelined during Australia’s recent T20I series against New Zealand due to a calf strain, has failed to recover in time. He is expected to miss at least the first two ODIs. Zampa, meanwhile, will sit out the opening match for personal family reasons. These developments mean Australia will be without two of their regular squad members responsible for keeping balance in the team. With Alex Carey engaged in Sheffield Shield matches as part of Ashes preparations, the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper is unavailable for the series start. In this gap, Josh Philippe has been called up. Philippe, who also covered for Maxwell in the recent New Zealand series, has not yet featured in the playing XI during that tournament. The 27-year-old is now set to play his first ODI since 2021. In his limited ODI experience, Philippe has played three matches and scored 65 runs, giving him modest but vital international exposure. Read also: Pat Cummins Shares Injury Update Ahead of Ashes 2025 Opener Team structure tested as injuries mount Australia’s management faces strategic challenges with several senior players missing. Cameron Green has returned to Sheffield Shield cricket to focus on Ashes preparation and will not feature in the white-ball series against India. Cummins, recovering from injury, is also expected to make his return only in the second Test of the Ashes, ruling him out of the limited-overs matches. The team’s balance is under scrutiny as Australia enters the series with a mixture of emerging players and backups. The selection of Philippe and other replacements will test the depth of the squad while maintaining competitiveness against India. The first ODI will provide the first real assessment of Australia’s options in the absence of their injured frontline players.