The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s senior men’s selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced the India A squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia A on Sunday. Matches are scheduled at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur, on September 30, October 3, and October 5, 2025. Senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both out of competitive cricket since IPL 2025, were speculated to feature in the series. However, neither has been named in the squads. The 13-member lineup for the first ODI will see Rajat Patidar lead the side, with seasoned players and promising talent forming the batting and bowling core. Read also: Sourav Ganguly Returns as CAB President Ahead of BCCI Elections Tilak Varma to Captain Later Matches; New Inclusions Shine For the second and third ODIs, a 15-member squad has been named. Tilak Varma will captain, with Patidar as deputy. New additions include Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh. Priyansh Arya and Simarjeet Singh will not feature in the final two matches. A BCCI official clarified that the senior duo, Rohit and Kohli, will play India A matches only if they feel they need match practice ahead of India’s Australia tour later this year. Both have cleared mandatory pre-season fitness assessments—Rohit at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence and Kohli in London. The absence of Ro-Ko has sparked discussions among fans and media, yet the team management insists the younger squad is prepared to face Australia A. Both senior players remain fully available for selection in the main India ODI series in Australia. The three-match series in Kanpur will provide crucial exposure for emerging talents while giving selectors insights into players’ form and readiness for international cricket. Patidar and Varma are expected to guide the team tactically and lead from the front on the field. India A squad for Australia series India A squad for the 1st one-day match: Rajat Patidar (Captain), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Priyansh Arya, Simarjeet Singh. India A squad for 2nd and 3rd one-day: Tilak Varma (Captain), Rajat Patidar (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Vipraj Nigam, Nishant Sindhu, Gurjapneet Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Porel (WK), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh.