Why are Rohit-Kohli not named in India A squad for Australia series? Explained

Stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will not be a part of the India A's three-match ODI series against Australia A. India A will play three ODIs against the touring Australian side after the completion of two multi-day matches. All three unofficial ODIs will be played in Kanpur.

With the two all set to feature for the Indian setup in the three-match 50-over leg in October Down Under, a few questions have been raised on social media as to why both players have not been included in India A's squad by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Reasons behind Rohit-Kohli's absence?

One among the several reasons could be that it is completely up to senior players if they want to participate in 'A' games to be provided with some match time. The other reason could be that the selectors would want to try out some youngsters for the series, keeping the future in mind. Rohit is currently in Mumbai while Virat is training in London and the duo may join the Indian team directly for the three ODIs against Australia.

Rohit and Kohli have already retired from T20Is (after the final of the T20 World Cup 2024) and Tests (ahead of the recent five-match England series). This has left them with 50-over cricket being their only source of international cricket. Their most-recent appearance for India was in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy against New Zealand in Dubai.

The All India Men's Senior Selection Committee led by Ajit Agarkar recently named India A's squad for the first two ODIs against Australia A. Rajat Patidar has been named as the captain for the first match. Tilak Verma, who is currently part of India's Asia Cup 2025 contingent, will captain the side for the second and third matches. Patidar will serve as Tilak's deputy in those matches. The squad comprises the likes of Prabhsimran Singh and Abishek Porel too.

The 50-over fixtures will start on September 30, with all three games scheduled at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. But prior to that, both the sides will be playing a couple of unofficial four-day Tests, where Shreyas Iyer has been named as the captain of the 17-man squad. Both these matches will be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.