India’s squad for ODIs vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja returns, Jaydev Unadkat included for 3-match series
Seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been included in India's ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia, which will be played following the conclusion of the Test series. The 34-year-old last played an ODI in July 2022.
Jadeja, who returned to international cricket in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, has been in stupendous form. In fact, he has walked away with the Player of the Match in both Tests of the series so far.
The versatile all-rounder registered career-best Test figures of 7-42 in Delhi on Sunday (February 19) as India beat the Aussies by six wickets. The left arm-spinner claimed three wickets in the first innings and also contributed 26 runs.
In the first Test in Nagpur, Jadeja claimed seven wickets and scored 70 runs in India’s emphatic triumph by an innings and 132 runs. The all-rounder was out of international cricket for five months following a freak knee injury suffered during the Asia Cup last year.
Left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who led Saurashtra to victory in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 final against Bengal, claiming nine wickets, has also been named in the one-day squad. Unadkat last played an ODI for India in November 2013.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the squads for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 as well as the three ODIs on Sunday. The official BCCI release said that captain Rohit Sharma will be unavailable for the first ODI due to family commitments. Vice-captain Hardik Pandya will lead the team in Rohit’s absence in the first one-dayer.
Like in the Tests, pacer Jasprit Bumrah has not been named in the Indian squad for the ODIs too.
The Men in Blue will take on Australia in the first ODI in Mumbai on March 17. The second game will be played in Vizag on March 19 and the third in Chennai on March 22.
Under-fire batter KL Rahul retains his place in the ODI team as well. Keeper-batter Sanju Samson misses out again.
India’s ODI squad against Australia
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat.