Former Indian opener and commentator Aakash Chopra has revealed his predicted playing XI for India’s first ODI against Australia, scheduled for October 19 in Perth. The series marks a fresh start for the Indian ODI side under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, following the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
This will be Gill first assignment as ODI captain, after leading India in Tests earlier this season. The biggest headline, however, is the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are set to play their first international match since the 2025 Champions Trophy final. With Gill taking over the leadership role, Rohit will play purely as a senior opener.
Chopra’s Predicted Top Order
According to Aakash Chopra, India’s top five picks almost select themselves. He chose Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to open the innings, followed by Virat Kohli at number three, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain) at number four, and KL Rahul (wicketkeeper) at number five.
This combination means Yashasvi Jaiswal will have to sit out for the opening game.
Spin & All-Round Options
With Hardik Pandya unavailable due to injury, Chopra included Nitish Kumar Reddy at number six to provide balance in the middle order. The commentator made a surprising call by leaving out Kuldeep Yadav, instead preferring the spin all-rounder pair of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. He explained that India might opt for extra batting depth in Perth’s bouncy conditions.
Pace Attack for Perth
In the fast-bowling department, Chopra picked Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana as his preferred trio. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for workload management, while Prasidh Krishna narrowly misses out. Chopra defended the inclusion of 23-year-old Harshit Rana, saying young pacers deserve consistent opportunities to grow at the international level.
Predicted India XI by Aakash Chopra
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
