Shock omission! Former India coach names ODI XI for Australia series – WATCH | Cricket News
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has revealed his preferred playing XI for India’s upcoming first ODI against Australia in Perth on October 19, 2025, notably excluding Asia Cup 2025’s leading wicket-taker Kuldeep Yadav. The team selection comes as India prepares for their first ODI under new captain Shubman Gill, with veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to international cricket following India’s Champions Trophy victory in March.Click here to watch the video.Bangar’s selected XI features Shubman Gill as captain opening alongside Rohit Sharma, followed by Virat Kohli, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, and wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul in the batting order. The bowling department includes spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, along with fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy.The pace attack comprises Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana, completing the eleven players selected by Bangar for the series opener against Australia.The exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav from Bangar’s preferred lineup has drawn attention, considering the spinner’s impressive performance in the Asia Cup 2025, where he claimed 17 wickets to emerge as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.The future of both Rohit and Kohli in international cricket has become a topic of discussion, particularly after Gill’s appointment as ODI captain. Both veterans have already stepped away from Test cricket and T20 Internationals but are reportedly interested in continuing their ODI careers until the 2027 World Cup.“The experience that both of them have and the matches that they have won for India, there are very few players who have won so many matches for India…players who have such skills and qualities with this experience are very few,” Gill said about the senior duo.The complete playing XI selected by Sanjay Bangar for the first ODI against Australia is: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana.
