India vs Australia ODIs: Ajit Agarkar Explains Gill’s Appointment as ODI Captain and Jadeja’s Exclusion
A new era of Indian cricket has officially begun. As Ajit Agarkar, India’s chairman of selectors, unveiled the limited-overs squads for the Australia tour, all eyes turned to one name — Shubman Gill, India’s new ODI captain.
In a candid press briefing, Agarkar detailed the thinking behind Gill’s elevation, addressed Ravindra Jadeja’s exclusion, and shared how the team plans to manage workloads in a jam-packed schedule.
India's Next-Gen Leader — Shubman Gill Takes the Reins
The BCCI’s decision to hand the ODI captaincy to Shubman Gill marks a significant shift towards long-term planning, with the 2027 World Cup in mind.
Agarkar explained that limited ODI opportunities between now and the tournament necessitated giving the young opener time to adapt and grow into the leadership role.
At some stage, you’ve got to start looking at where the next World Cup is..
You don’t get that many ODIs anymore, so giving the next guy time to prepare is important..
— Ajit Agarkar, Chief Selector - BCCI
He emphasized the logistical challenge of having three different captains across formats, adding that it complicates not only selection but also coaching strategies.
It’s very difficult to have three different captains for three formats,..
For the coach, it’s not easy to plan with three different people.t..
— Ajit Agarkar, Chief Selector - BCCI
Tight Schedule Ahead for Gill
Gill’s leadership trial comes amid a packed calendar. He’s currently leading India in the Test series against the West Indies and will transition straight into the white-ball leg against Australia, before South Africa’s visit in mid-November.
Agarkar dismissed burnout concerns, calling Gill “fit, driven, and young enough to handle the workload.”
Hopefully not. He’s still quite young. We’ll manage it as best we can, but we also want to give him enough time to prepare for the next World Cup...
— Ajit Agarkar, Chief Selector - BCCI
Jadeja’s Exclusion — A Tactical Move, Not a Demotion
Agarkar clarified that Ravindra Jadeja’s omission from the Australia ODI squad was purely tactical.
He stressed that team balance and pitch conditions were the main reasons behind selecting only one left-arm spinner.
At the moment, to take two left-arm spinners to Australia isn’t possible...
Jadeja’s very much in the scheme of things, but we wanted a balance with Washington (Sundar) and Kuldeep (Yadav).
— Ajit Agarkar, Chief Selector - BCCI
He reaffirmed Jadeja’s value to the team, noting his all-round impact and fielding brilliance, while reminding fans that it’s a short series — not a statement on future selection.
Managing Workloads — Bumrah, Siraj, and the Rest
Addressing questions about Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the ODI squad, Agarkar reiterated that the selectors are focused on workload management.
Bumrah has been rested for the 50-over games but remains part of the T20I squad.
Wherever we can give him a break, we will. Everyone knows how important he is..
The idea is to manage seniors like Bumrah and Siraj carefully, given the amount of cricket ahead...
— Ajit Agarkar, Chief Selector - BCCI
A Vision Beyond 2025
Agarkar’s comments signaled a clear intent — India’s transition to the next generation of leaders is underway, with Gill at the center.
While challenges around workload and scheduling persist, the selectors appear committed to providing stability and direction ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
India’s ODI leg against Australia begins on October 22 in Adelaide, marking the start of Gill’s captaincy era in white-ball cricket.
