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India name Kohli, Rohit for West Indies ODIs; Nigam added for Asian Games

India recall Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the West Indies ODIs, with Vipraj Nigam replacing Varun Chakaravarthy in the Asian Games squad.

India name Kohli, Rohit for West Indies ODIs; Nigam added for Asian Games

India’s latest squad announcements underline a clear split between experience and transition. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been included for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, while the Asian Games group has been adjusted with Vipraj Nigam replacing injured spinner Varun Chakaravarthy.

ODI squad keeps senior core intact

Shubman Gill will captain the ODI side, with KL Rahul as vice-captain. The selection also brings maiden ODI call-ups for Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has been moved into the ODI squad after originally being named for the Asian Games.

The West Indies ODI series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram. India have named a 15-member squad that balances established performers with newer options, giving the team a blend of batting depth, all-round support, and seam variety.

India ODI squad vs West IndiesRole
Shubman GillCaptain
KL RahulVice-captain
Virat KohliBatter
Rohit SharmaBatter
Ruturaj GaikwadBatter
Yashasvi JaiswalBatter
Dhruv JurelWicketkeeper-batter
Nitish Kumar ReddyAll-rounder
Ravindra JadejaAll-rounder
Kuldeep YadavSpinner
Prasidh KrishnaFast bowler
Gurnoor BrarFast bowler
Mohammed SirajFast bowler
Auqib NabiFast bowler
Naman DhirAll-rounder

T20 groups highlight youth and rotation

India’s T20 setup for the West Indies and the Japan match continues the policy of widening the talent pool. Shreyas Iyer will lead the main T20 squad against the West Indies, with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi among the notable inclusions.

The five-match T20I series starts in Lucknow on October 6. India have named a group that includes two wicketkeeper-batters in Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, alongside all-round options such as Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

India T20 squad vs West IndiesRole
Shreyas IyerCaptain
Tilak VarmaVice-captain
Abhishek SharmaBatter
Vaibhav SooryavanshiBatter
Ishan KishanWicketkeeper-batter
Sanju SamsonWicketkeeper-batter
Shivam DubeAll-rounder
Kuldeep YadavSpinner
Axar PatelAll-rounder
Washington SundarAll-rounder
Ravi BishnoiSpinner
Nitish Kumar ReddyAll-rounder
Arshdeep SinghFast bowler
Prince YadavFast bowler
Mayank YadavFast bowler

Asian Games squad adjusted after injury

India’s updated squad for the Japan T20 and the Asian Games also reflects a tactical shift after Chakaravarthy was ruled out with a side strain. Vipraj Nigam’s inclusion restores another spin option to a squad that will now enter the Asian Games campaign at the quarter-final stage.

The Asian Games side is headed by Shreyas Iyer and supported by Tilak Varma as vice-captain. India have again selected a mixed roster with a strong all-round core, including Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh.

Updated Japan T20 and Asian Games squadStatus
Shreyas IyerCaptain
Tilak VarmaVice-captain
Sanju SamsonWicketkeeper-batter
Ishan KishanWicketkeeper-batter
Jasprit BumrahFast bowler
Arshdeep SinghFast bowler
Vaibhav SooryavanshiBatter
Yash ThakurFast bowler
Vipraj NigamAll-rounder

What the selections indicate

The broader selection pattern suggests India are managing three priorities at once: maintaining continuity in ODIs, using T20 series to broaden options, and protecting depth for multi-sport and bilateral commitments. The presence of Kohli and Rohit in the 50-over squad shows that senior experience still remains central to India’s ODI plans.

At the same time, the inclusion of Sooryavanshi, Naman Dhir and Auqib Nabi indicates that India continue to test emerging players in controlled international settings. With a packed schedule across ODIs, T20Is, the Japan match and the Asian Games, squad rotation has become a clear selection theme.

From a performance-management perspective, the structure is straightforward: senior batters anchor the ODI unit, younger players are being filtered into shorter formats, and injury cover has been built into the Asian Games group. The selection mix should also help India assess bench strength ahead of a busy international cycle.

India ODI squadVirat KohliRohit SharmaWest Indies seriesAsian Games squadShreyas IyerVipraj NigamIndian cricket team
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