 "Australian batsman David Warner and Aaron Finch being congratulated by Indian players after they chased down the target to win the first one day international (ODI) cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Photo: PTI")
The Indian cricket team will play its first International cricket series in the coronavirus pandemic, when Virat Kohli-led side fly out to Australia after the completion of Indian Premier league 2020. The Indian selection committee led by chief selector Sunil Doshi announced the squad for One Day International and T20 series in Australia on Monday. The selection committee met via video-conference for selecting the Indian team.
Notably, the schedules for India vs Australia ODI and T20 series are still not finalised by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket Australia (CA). However, the India’s tour of Australia 2020-21 will tentatively kick start from November 27, 2020 with three-match ODI series.
Batsmen
Virat Kohli will lead the 16-member squad with Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey and Mayank Agarwal as proper batsmen. Meanwhile vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who recently did not feature in Mumbai Indians last two games, failed to get a place in limited over squad. KL Rahul named as vice-captain for limited over series in Australia.
Batmen list: Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Shubam Gill (only for T20s), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Mayank Agarwal
India vs Australia tentative ODI schedule:
| Match | Date | Time (IST) |
| First ODI | 27-Nov | 8:29 AM |
| Second ODI | 29-Nov | 7:30 AM |
| Third ODI | 1-Dec |
8:30 AM |
All-rounders
In the 16-member squad, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the two all-rounders limited over side while Washington Sundar for T20s only. However, it still not clear whether Hardik will bowl or not, given he has not bowled a single ball in IPL 2020.
All-rounders list: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar (only for T20s)
Wicket keepers
The hard hitting left handed batsman and wicket Keeper Rishabh Pant was not picked by the selectors for both ODIs and T20s. Pant has been criticised for his poor short selection and shoddy glove work behind the stumps. Instead, Sanju Samson and KL Rahul got selected in the limited over side.
Wicket-keepers list: KL Rahul, Sanju Samson (only for T20s)
Why Pant overlooked for IND vs AUS limited-over series?
In IPL 2020, Pant has a highest of 38 which is one of his four scores in 30s. He averages 31 at a strike rate of 117.29. Samson, on the other hand, has three half-centuries and even though his average is a shade under 30, he has managed to win Rajasthan Royals a few games. Against Pant's 217 runs, Samson has 326 runs and his strike rate is exceptional at 157.48.
India vs Australia tentative T20Is schedule:
| Match | Date | Time (IST) |
| First T20I | 4-Dec | 12:30 PM |
| Second T20I | 6-Dec | 1:30 PM |
| Third T20I | 8-Dec |
1:30 PM |
Bowlers
The bowling department has not seen any surprises barring inclusion of spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Jaspirt Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will lead the pace bowling attack.
Bowlers list: Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur (only for ODIs), Deepak Chahar (only for T20s), Varun Chakravarthy (only for T20s)
Here are the full ODI and T20 squads:
| Players | ODIs | T20s |
| Virat Kohli (Captain) | Y | Y |
| Shikhar Dhawan | Y | Y |
| Shubman Gill | Y | N |
| Mayank Agarwal | Y | Y |
| KL Rahul (vice-captain and wicket-keeper) | Y | Y |
| Shreyas Iyer | Y | Y |
| Manish Pandey | Y | Y |
| Hardik Pandya | Y | Y |
| Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper) | N | Y |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Y | Y |
| Washington Sundar | N | Y |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | Y | Y |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Y | Y |
| Mohd. Shami | Y | Y |
| Navdeep Saini | Y | Y |
| Deepak Chahar | N | Y |
| Varun Chakravarthy | N | Y |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Y | N |
| Shardul Thakur | Y | N |
