India’s Cricket Titans Kohli and Rohit Depart for High-Stakes Australia Tour

Senior cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the first group of Indian players who departed on Wednesday for a three-match ODI series against Australia, set to start on October 19.

Accompanying Kohli and Rohit are Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna, in addition to some support staff members.

The entourage arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in the morning, greeted by a small crowd of enthusiastic fans eager to catch a glimpse of them.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, along with other coaching staff, is scheduled to depart later in the evening.

India will compete in three ODIs, beginning Sunday in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide and Sydney.

Following the ODIs, there will be a five-match T20 International series, with the T20 specialists expected to depart around October 22. This series kicks off on October 29.

The ODI series has sparked considerable interest, especially concerning the futures of Rohit and Kohli, who have retired from Tests and T20Is.

Gambhir, speaking after India’s 2-0 Test series win over the West Indies in New Delhi on Tuesday, expressed his hope for successful performances from the pair in the upcoming series, while avoiding discussions about their chances for the 2027 World Cup.

“The 50-over World Cup is still two and a half years ahead. It’s crucial to focus on the present. They are skilled players returning, and their experience will be crucial in Australia,” Gambhir remarked during the post-series press conference.

“Hopefully, those two can have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we can achieve a fruitful series,” Gambhir added when questioned about the future of the two former captains.

Published on Oct 15, 2025