India vs Australia 2023: Best ODI Squad and Players List for Both

India to select a full-strength team as we look at the confirmed squad and players list for India vs Australia 2023 ODI series. 

The Indian ODI team is currently preparing for the blockbuster Asia Cup 2023 showdown. The Asia Cup, which generally fluctuates between the T20 and ODI format will see this year’s tournament being played in the 50-over format. As per the leading website, Betway Satta, India are favourite to win the Asia Cup with odds at 1.15.  

Unsurprisingly, India would be sending a full-strength squad for the marquee event after doing tons of experimentation in the previous tournaments. However, as unfortunate as it may sound, the Asia Cup 2023 may not see India with all their key players being fully fit for the tournament. 

Hence, more than the Asia Cup, the ODI series vs Australia, which shall be played just before the ODI World Cup will see India playing with all their players being fully fit for the series. The 3-match ODI series vs Australia shall be played from September 22 to September 27, 2023.

While we still have over a month for the tournament, the BCCI shall announce the squad for Asia Cup and Australia series together. So, as we wait for the official announcement, let’s analyze all players, and look at the best possible squad list for India vs Australia 2023 ODI series. 

India vs Australia 2023 Best ODI Squad List for Team India:

Batters – Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav & Virat Kohli

Team India have a pretty settled combination of batters. The likes of which include Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli in the top-order, and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle-order. The only question mark that India shall have is the availability of Shreyas Iyer for the Australia ODI series.

As understood from the market intel regarding Shreyas Iyer’s fitness, he may not be available for Asia Cup, but should recover in a month’s time for the 3-match ODI series vs Australia. This will be a big boost for the Indian team as Shreyas has been an integral member of the ODI team. 

In case Shreyas Iyer doesn’t recover, which doesn’t look questionable as of now, Tilak Varma may be seen as a trump card or wild entry for the middle-order slot. Tilak has started his International career with a bang in T20Is. Given the maturity he brings in his batting, he can be slotted for the middle-order slot for injured Iyer.  

WKs – Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul & Sanju Samson

Coming to the wicket-keepers, the only discussion point shall be the availability of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant – India’s primary wicket-keepers in the ODI format. As understood from the fitness regime of these two players, KL Rahul shall be fully fit in a month’s time. Hence, he should be a part of the ODI series squad. 

However, the same can’t be said about Rishabh Pant. Pant may be recovering quickly, and facing sheer pace bowling in the nets, but he should still take a few months to recover. In Pant’s absence, India are likely to select both, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson as the backup Wicket-keeper option. 

All-rounders – Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja

For the all-rounders, there is no debate whatsoever. There are only three options currently with the Indian team, and those are Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. While Jadeja and Pandya shall be the primary all-rounders in the squad, Axar shall act as a key backup all-rounder. 

Spinners – Kuldeep Yadav & Yuzvendra Chahal

Even for the spin department, there is no debate whatsoever. There are only two options for Team India, and that is the KulCha combination of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. In addition to KulCha, India shall have key spin backups in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. 

Pacers – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna & Shardul Thakur

Pacers is the area that shall see the most discussion among all categories. If we talk about the sure shot selections, there are only three names in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. These three are India’s best pacers, and will play a key role in all ODI matches.

But other than these three, India have five pacers in contention in the form of Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, and Mukesh Kumar. If India select all 5, which cannot be a possibility, India would have to select a 21-member squad. Hence, India are more likely to select an 18-member squad for the 3-match ODI series. 

So, if only two had pacers to be selected, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur are the two names that may get the first priority. If an additional sixth pacer is selected then Mukesh Kumar is the name that shall get the priority. He shall be followed by Umran Malik and Jaydev Unadkat respectively in priority order. 

India vs Australia 2023 – Confirmed Best ODI Squad List for Indian Team:

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav & Virat Kohli

WKs: Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul & Sanju Samson

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur & Yuzvendra Chahal

So, that’s about the confirmed best squad list for Team India for the 2023 ODI series vs Australia. Overall, given the home series, India should select 18-20 members in the squad with 18 being the best possibility. All eyes shall be on the fitness of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna. 

Talking about Australia’s squad, they should be sending the same 18-member squad to India, which they have selected as a core for ODI World Cup 2023. The Australian team shall be led by Pat Cummins. The key players include David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, etc. 

India vs Australia 2023 – Confirmed Best ODI Squad List for Australia:

Batters: Travis Head, Steve Smith & David Warner 

WKs: Alex Carey & Josh Inglis

All-rounders: Aaron Hardie, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, & Mitchell Marsh

Bowlers: Adam Zampa Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott & Tanveer Sangha

India vs Australia 2023 ODI Series Schedule:

• 1st ODI @ Mohali – September 22, 1:30 pm IST
• 2nd ODI @ Indore – September 24, 1:30 pm IST
• 3rd ODI @ Rajkot – September 27, 1:30 pm IST

Thanks for reading! What’s your take India vs Australia 2023 ODI squad list for both teams? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.