The BCCI on Saturday announced India’s squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia as well. However, two talented young batters – Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma were not selected into the ODI squad despite their performances in the Asia Cup 2025. Agarkar pointed out that Tilak was “very close” to selection, but added that there wasn’t any need to pick extra players as it’s only a three-match series.
“We have taken a 15-man squad, it is a three-match series, it is not like a Test series where you can carry a few extra which you might need. You may not end up needing more than those and you are not going to make too many changes in three games that you play (since) it is a short series,” he added.
Meanwhile, Raavindra Jadeja, who hit the winning runs of Team India’s win in the Champions Trophy final earlier this year, was ignored, considering the conditions in Australia for the three-match ODI series as well.
“To take two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible, but he is clearly in the scheme of things with how good he is. But there will also be some competition for places,” Agarkar told the media after India’s squad announcement. “He was there in the Champions Trophy squad because we took those extra spinners with the conditions there. (But) we could only carry one (left-arm spinner) and get some balance in the team.”
READ HERE: Shubman Gill Takes Sly Dig At His Critics After India Win At Edgbaston
“With Washy (Washington Sundar) and Kuldeep (Yadav) there (in the squad) as well and I don’t think we are going to need more than that in Australia. But he is clearly in the scheme of things, Jaddu, with how good he is, what he offers us as a batter and a bowler, but particularly in the field as well,” he further added.
Ajit Agarkar said that all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who sustained a quadriceps injury before the Asia Cup final, is all set to begin his rehabilitation work as well.
“He is not going to be fit for Australia tour due to the injury that he picked up just before the finals in Asia Cup. We will know in due course how long he is going to be (away but) in a week’s time he is supposed to be there at the COE and once he starts his rehab, we will probably get better timelines,” he added.
“There is always a plan. Whenever you can give him a break, you will, because we all know how important he is. But we have also got to see what is in the interest of the team and when we need him to play, he is always available.” “But we will look after, not just him, (Mohammed) Siraj bowls a lot of overs as well, there are other guys who do play Test cricket who will end up having a lot of bowling to do, so we will try and manage all the seamers so that we minimise the risk of injuries,” he shared.
Ajit Agarkar said that the selection of Nitish Reddy in the ODI was to see what the all-rounder has to offer in this format as well.
“Reddy has shown a lot of promise, we have seen more in Test cricket so far. It gives us an opportunity to see what he can do in white-ball cricket. We don’t have a whole lot of guys who can bat and bowl (fast) because it is a difficult job to do both and he certainly is showing promise and we will probably see a bit more of him when he does bowl in white-ball cricket and bat.” With Dhruv Jurel also getting his maiden call-up in ODI side,” Agarkar said again.
“Sanju Samson bats at the top of the order, when he got a hundred, he batted No 3 if I am not wrong. Jurel usually bats lower down the order, KL (Rahul) bats there as well. You have seen how good a player Dhruv is, so again, you are looking at spots. I don’t think there is room at the top so we are looking at guys who can fit in those spots. We have made it clear a couple of years back (that) whenever the guys are available, they should be playing domestic cricket. That is the only way you will keep yourself sharp,” Ajit Agarkar concluded.
