Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins, will not feature in the upcoming three-match ODI series as he continues to recover from injury ahead of the five-match Test series against England in the Ashes 2025-26 at home. However, on Star Sports, in a recent interaction, Cummins has picked his all-time eleven for the clashes between the two sides.

Cummins has picked David Warner and Sachin Tendulkar as the two openers for the 50-over clashes. Tendulkar is the leading run-getter of the ODI format between these two teams’ battles with 3077 runs in 70 innings at an average of 44.59 and a strike rate of 84.71 with 15 fifties and nine centuries at the best score of 175. Warner has clubbed 1222 runs with three centuries and nine fifties.

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Quite surprisingly, Cummins has ignored both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the list. The duo is respectively the second and third leading run-getters in ODIs during the head-to-head with 2451 runs and 2407 runs at an average of over 50.

Watch: Pat Cummins ignores Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from his all-time AUS vs IND ODI XI

At numbers three and four, Cummins has gone with Ricky Ponting and Steve Smith, besides adding Shane Watson and Michael Bevan in he eleven. The former World Cup-winning captain of the Indian side, MS Dhoni, will keep wickets in the side and is the fifth leading run-getter in this battle with two centuries and 11 fifties for his 1660 runs.

#PatCummins crafts his all-time AUS vs IND XI, handpicking the finest stars from past! 🤩

Share your ultimate playing XI in the comments using today’s stars! ⚡🏏#AUSvIND | 1st ODI | SUN, 19th OCT, 8 AM, on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/3KVZ7Ygtd7

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 15, 2025

In the bowling line, apart from India’s Zaheer Khan, Cummins has gone with Brett Lee, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath. Lee is the leading wicket-taker of the list with 55 wickets at an average of 21 with four five-wicket hauls.

Warne has only 15 wickets in 13 ODI innings at an average of around 35 against India. Cummins has still got him in the eleven. The upcoming ODI series will begin on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Pat Cummins’ all-time IND vs AUS ODI XI

David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Michael Bevan, MS Dhoni (wk..), Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Zaheer Khan, and Glenn McGrath.

Australia will miss their veteran premier leg spinner, Adam Zampa, and wicket-keeper, Josh Inglis, for the opening ODI clash against India at Perth, starting on September 19. The former is missing due to paternity reasons, while Inglis hasn’t fully recovered from the calf-strain that kept him out of the T20I series against New Zealand.

The selectors have called Mathew Kuhnemann and Josh Phillippe for the India games as replacements. The latter is set to keep wickets for the first time in an ODI while Alex Carey plays a Sheffield Shield game as part of their Ashes 2025-26 preparation. Inglis has also been ruled out of the second ODI in Adelaide when Carey returns to the squad.

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Zampa’s wife is in the late stages of pregnancy with their second child. He has decided to stay at home in NSW, as Perth is a challenging place to return from. He is expected to return for the next two games in Adelaide and Sydney before the following five-match T20I series, all of which will be played on the east coast.

Adam Zampa and Josh Inglis to miss Australia’s opening Perth ODI vs India

Kuhnemann has been called for the Perth game, which will be his first ODI in three years at home since facing Sri Lanka in 2022. He traveled across the world for the WTC final, a five-match T20I trip to the Caribbean, the three-match ODI and T20I series at home against South Africa, and the three-match T20I series against the Blackcaps, but featured in just one game in Jamaica.

Philippe hasn’t played an ODI since the Caribbean tour in 2021, when he played as a specialist batter. He hasn’t played any format for the national side since 2023, but has been an impressive performer for the A side in red-ball series and has an excellent one-day domestic record for NSW and Western Australia.

Australia’s updated ODI squad vs India

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Just when calls are made to privatize the Big Bash League (BBL), it has been revealed that the World Cup winning Australian captain, Pat Cummins, and his deputy, Travis Head, were offered nearly INR 58 crore ($10 million) a year to feature in the T20 Leagues around the world full time including the Indian Premier League (IPL) as it brings the fear of several early retirements. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that an IPL side made the offer this year, to which both Cummins and Travis Head rejected the offer as they cited their commitment to the national side. But the news of offers was discussed between Cricket Australia (CA), the state associations, and the players’ union as they look to privatize their franchise T20 leagues.

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The top Australian players currently earn $1.5 million a year from their national contracts, while for Cummins, the price is $3 million due to his leadership responsibilities. The money from the BBL would increase the player salaries, which would also link the T20 league into a growing network globally.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head reject $10M to leave Australia for T20 leagues

Cummins’ auction value for the Sunrisers Hyderabad last year was around $3.7 million, while Head grabbed $1.2 million at the same team. The latter revealed his views on his SRH teammate, Heinrich Klassen’s decision to retire from international cricket and feature in franchise cricket only.

“I spent a lot of time with Klaasen over a period of time while he was making decisions. I don't think there's any written rule on what you should or shouldn't play or what you should or shouldn't give up. There's an idea of what people should think, and what they should do. Playing international cricket is the pinnacle. A lot of people hold it so high in regard, but some people don't.” Head expressed.

“What's happening in the world at the moment is people have opportunities to make those decisions, which we've never had [before]. So it's hard to knock someone who is making a decision in their own personal state and trying to get job satisfaction. Fair play.” The left-handed batter addressed.

Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins, will miss the opening Ashes 2025-26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth and could be away from all five encounters after a fresh round of scans revealed his back stress problem had not healed yet. The veteran, who was confident of regaining his full fitness and being prepared for the series opener on November 21, has no chance of reaching that stage. 

At this rate, Steve Smith is likely to lead the national side against Ben Stokes’ England. Even though the reports are confidential, the 32-year-old Australia pacer underwent a scan last week to assess his progress ahead of the summer and was informed that, although the hot spot has healed, he will not be able to bowl for the seven weeks.

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The loss of Cummins with a back stress injury is a massive blow for the home side of retaining the Ashes urn that they have held since 2018. In that case, Scott Boland now looks certain to be the third seamer along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in Perth, with new back-ups expected to come.

Pat Cummins to miss opening Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth and uncertain for full series

England haven’t won a single red-ball clash on Australian soil since 2011 and will be given the strength that they would be facing Australia’s strongest leader and pacer. The best scenario for the New South Wales pacer will be to come back by the end of the Ashes. However, that also looks quite impossible in the tight schedule of the Australian side.

“That would be devastating. We’ll be doing everything we can to be right for that, [and] make a few decisions a little bit closer, but (I’m) confident we’ll do the rehab right and give it a good crack. This far out, it’s hard to know, but we’re trying to make sure we’re doing everything right to be right for Perth.” Cummins expressed a month ago in Brisbane when asked if there was any chance of missing Perth.

“I’ve had a really good run as fast bowling goes, and I’ve been really well looked after, which has got me through this many Tests. I’ve bowled a lot over the last few years; something was bound to happen at some point.” The NSW pacer is feared.

Australia have named their squad for the first two of the five-match T20I series against India at home, as Mitchell Marsh will continue to lead the side. Josh Inglis, who missed the T20I series against New Zealand last week due to a calf strain, has returned to the shortest format against the Suryakumar Yadav-led side. 

The initial squad for the first couple of encounters is a sign of the management looking to rest the multi-format players for the final three games for those involved in the Ashes 2025-26. Glenn Maxwell, the premier all-rounder, remains unavailable for the 20-over fixtures due to the unbroken wrist he suffered ahead of the New Zealand series.

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“We have named a squad for the ODI series and the first two games of the T20 series, as there will be some management through the back end of the series as individuals prepare for the summer through Sheffield Shield cricket.” The chairman of the selection committee for Australia, George Bailey, expressed in a media statement.

Australia pick strong and full-strength T20I squad vs India

Cameron Green has been included in the ODI squad against India, but he isn’t part of the 20-over side as he prepares to face England in the next series and is likely to play more Sheffield Shield games for Western Australia. Mitchell Owen has also had the chance to be part of the 20-over squad.

“The majority of the T20 squad will remain together as it's an important period in the build towards the World Cup next year; however, we are trying to strike a balance to ensure we simultaneously prepare certain individuals for the Test series ahead.” The former Australian captain addressed.

Nathan Ellis returned to the T20I squad after missing the New Zealand trip for the birth of his first child, as Sean Abbott has also retained his position. The first two T20Is will be played in Canberra and Melbourne in the last week of October, before the next three games will be played in early November.

Australia’s T20I squad vs India (first two games) at home

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Australia have dropped their veteran middle-order batter, Marnus Labuschagne, from the three-match ODI squad to face India at home as his Queensland team-mate, Matt Renshaw, is in line to make his debut in the format. Marnus’ form was a concern with a top score of just 47 in the last ten ODI innings, which didn’t push the selectors enough to keep him. 

Labuschagne might not feature against South Africa in August if Matthew Short wasn’t ruled out of the side with a side strain. This omission means he could continue to feature in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, where he started with a fine 160 against Tasmania, which could pave the way for his Test recall during the Ashes 2025-26.

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Renshaw’s call-up comes after an impressive run in the List-A cricket as he smashed a century for Australia A against Sri Lanka in Darwin in the winter. Since November 2021, in 50-over games, he has an average of over 48, with six of his seven centuries coming in this period. He could also be an option for numbers three and four in the Ashes squad.

Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne for three-match ODI series against India

Mitchell Starc, who hasn’t played in the ODIs since last November, has also been included along with the available players. Alex Carey, who missed the Shield game for South Australia due to his participation in the T20I series in New Zealand, will miss the opening ODI to feature in the second round of the Sheffield game.

His fellow wicket-keeper, Josh Inglis, has recovered from the calf strain that put him out of the T20I squad as he returns to the 50-over and 20-over sides. Cameron Green has also been added for the ODIs. The opening 50-over game will be on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, while the second and third clashes will be on October 23 and 25 in Adelaide and Sydney.

Australia’s ODI squad against India at home

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Owen, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia down under. This will be a great preparation for the Blue Brigade, who won the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai earlier this year beating New Zealand in the final and now aims to get continue the same dominance during the 50-over World Cup 2027 in South Africa.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two veterans of Indian cricket, who have already retired from the shortest and longest format of the game, return for the series as India rested their senior member, Jasprit Bumrah, for the ODIs looking ahead in the long home seasonbefore he returns for the T20Is. Shubman Gill has replaced Rohit to be the new leader of the 50-over side.  

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This ODI series will be incredibly crucial for the Rohit Sharma and Kohli, who will be under pressure to find the batting flow and rhythm straightaway with the bat. There were questions if Rohit should look to retire from the ODI format while there were lack of communication from the Delhi-born. They didn’t also play the three unofficial ODIs for India A against Australia A.

India name 15-member squad for upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia 

Hardik Pandya, the premier all-rounder of the 50-over format, hasn’t been part of the squad as he injured himself and missed the Asia Cup 2025 final last week against Pakistan. He will need another three weeks to fully get recovered while Rishabh Pant continues to develop from the foot injury that he picked up during the England Test series in the UK.

Mohammed Siraj will be the leader of the pace attack while the focus will also be on the two spinners. Axar Patel will be ahead in the selection for the eleven in comparison to Washington Sundar while Kuldeep Yadav will be the leading spinner for the 50-over format. In T20Is, Varun Chakravarhy will return to the squad as the selectors have showed confidence on Dhurv Jurel as the back-up wicket-keeper. 

The opening game will be played on January 19 at the Optus Stadium before the action moves to Adelaide Oval four days later. The third and final 50-over encounter will be played on October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.

India’s squad for three-match ODI series against Australia 

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk.), Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Arshdeep Singh. 

India's squad for three-match T20I series against Australia 

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Tilak Verma, Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk.), Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk.), Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Wasington Sundar. 

The left-arm Australia fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, has recently announced his T20I retirement to keep him fresh for the ODIs and the Tests, as he plans for the upcoming Ashes 2025/26 and the ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. But there is speculation whether he would feature in the IPL 2026.

Across the formats, Starc is the third leading wicket-taker for Australia with 725 wickets in 384 innings at an average of 35.45 and a strike rate of 37.32 with an economy rate of just over nine. He has already enjoyed 25 five-wicket hauls and focuses much more on the 50-over format ahead.

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“For lack of a better term, I want to milk my body as much as I can for as much Test cricket as possible. That was never going to be off the table. I just felt like one of the other had to give. I feel like I've got plenty to offer the ODI team and with that goal of getting my body to 2027 - but also being good enough to be in that team for the World Cup in 2027.” Starc was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Mitchell Starc provides future update after announcing his T20I retirement

If Starc features in the 2027 World Cup, he could end up being the greatest World Cup bowler of all time. His 65 wickets in 28 innings came at an average of under 20 at an economy rate of 5.15 and a strike rate of 22.44, with the best figures of 6/28 in an inning.

“I umm-ed and ahh-ed about which was the right (format) to put to the side. If I wasn't going to be in the frame for 2027, then I didn't want to hold up the spot. I still feel like I've got plenty to offer that ODI team. I'd thought about it for a while. I feel like it was probably a good time.” The New South Wales pacer addressed.

“The three one-dayer (against India) are a nice, controlled lead-in to five Test matches, 10 overs a game, time on the legs, they're not a day after each other. Some Shield games can be added to that schedule. (But) I think it's important not to have a concrete way of thinking.” Starc concluded.

Australia have faced a massive challenge ahead of the home white-ball series against India at home and the following Ashes 2025/26 as their red-ball captain, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out of the white-ball series and is expected to be under the scanner for the England series after a scan revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back. 

That means Cummins won’t play any cricket for Australia ahead of the Ashes, which start on November 21 in Perth. His bowling workloads are considered significant as he missed the five T20Is against West Indies and both white-ball series against the Proteas. Meanwhile, he has been cleared of any fracture in his lower spine.

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The New South Wales-pacer was out of the red-ball series due to stress fracture across the first six years of his international career and didn’t feature in a Test match between his debut in 2011 and his second Test in India in 2017. Since that time, he has faced various issues, including the hamstring issue and ankle injury.

Australia sweats over Pat Cummins’ injury status ahead of home Ashes 2025/26

In each of the three calendar years, Cummins had bowled 400-plus overs in cricket but had bowled only 175.1 overs in the nine months of 2025, with 95.1 overs coming across the four Tests in June and July against South Africa in June during the WTC final and the away West Indies series in the Caribbean. Even with a possible Shield game and the four Ashes, he isn’t expected to complete 400 overs by the end of this year.

“Cummins was rested from the recent T20 series against the West Indies and South Africa. Despite this planned de-load period, Cummins has experienced some ongoing lower back pain following the West Indies Test tour.” The Cricket Australia statement expressed.

“Further investigation has identified a level of lumbar bone stress that will require further management over the coming months. Cummins won't be considered for the upcoming limited-overs series against India and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his Ashes preparation.” The statement added.

The experienced left-arm pacer for Australia, Mitchell Starc, has decided to call it a time from the shortest format of the game to prioritize the heavy Test schedule next year and the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. The 35-year-old last featured in the format during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and was part of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. 

Starc is the second leading wicket-taker for Australia in the shortest format of the game. The New South Wales bowler has picked up 79 wickets in 65 innings at an average of under 24 and a strike rate of 18.45 with an economy rate of 7.74, thanks to his best bowling figures of 4/20 in an inning.

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“Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority. I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.” Starc expressed his thoughts on his T20I retirement for Australia.

Mitchell Starc announces T20I retirement for Australia due to heavy Test schedule

From the middle of 2026, the current WTC runners-up will face a hectic schedule with a home Test series against Bangladesh at home before a tour of South Africa and a four-match red-ball series against New Zealand, and another five Tests away in India in January 2027, followed by the one-off 150th anniversary against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then an away Ashes 2027.

“Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns. It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament.” Starc addressed the decision.

“Mitch should be incredibly proud of his T20 career for Australia. He was an integral member of the 2021 World Cup-winning side and, as across all his cricket, had a great skill for blowing games open with his wicket-taking ability.” The chairman of the selectors for Australia, George Bailey, reckoned.