Amidst intense speculation regarding India’s future ODI plans, the BCCI has put an end to the noise surrounding Rohit Sharma for the time being. The veteran player and captain, who led India to the T20 World Cup title, has been included in the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI series against England. Yashasvi Jaiswal, a strong contender for the opening batsman role, will have to wait for his opportunity.
Jaiswal, despite scoring 110 in the third ODI against Afghanistan on Saturday to complete an unbeaten run, was still omitted from the ODI squad. In fact, Jaiswal has registered two centuries in his last three ODI appearances but has yet to secure a long-term chance in the team. Jaiswal had been included in the Afghanistan squad as a replacement for the injured Virat Kohli.
A BCCI source told PTI, “There will not be much experimentation at the top against England. Virat is returning at No. 3, and Gill will open with Rohit Sharma. For the backup opener position, the selectors have Ishan Kishan, who can be used as a floater.”
Virat Kohli Included, But Contingent on Fitness
Virat Kohli has been included in the series, but his participation is conditional. He missed the Afghanistan series due to a hamstring injury. He will undergo a fitness test this week. If he passes, he will be part of the final squad. According to PTI, Kohli, who is in Delhi for a promotional event, will report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Monday for his fitness test.
He sustained a hamstring injury during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title charge in the Indian Premier League. The injury kept him out of the recent three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. NCA sports science staff had visited Kohli in England some time ago to monitor his recovery.
Jasprit Bumrah Returns to the Squad
Jasprit Bumrah has also been named in the squad. Veteran all-rounder Axar Patel is also making a comeback, replacing young left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey.
Dubey will join the India A red-ball squad for their multi-day series against Sri Lanka A.
The PTI source added, “The Indian team management will give Dubey and Axar periodic chances to check who is more suitable for the World Cup. Currently, only Ravindra Jadeja is considered a Test specialist.”
India will play three ODIs against England at Edgbaston (July 14), Sophia Gardens (July 16), and Lord’s (July 19).
India ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (Subject to Fitness Clearance), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar.
India’s Updated T20I Squad
Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy is in the final stages of his rehabilitation at the BCCI COE after sustaining a left foot injury during TATA IPL 2026. He has been ruled out of the T20I series against Ireland.
India’s updated squad for the Ireland T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prasidh Krishna.
