Pat Cummins Ruled Out of India ODI Series as Matthew Renshaw Returns After Three Years

Australia captain Pat Cummins has been left out of the ODI squad for the three-match series against India starting October 19, continuing his recovery from a lumbar bone stress injury sustained during the West Indies tour in July. In his absence, Mitchell Marsh will lead the side while 29-year-old Matthew Renshaw makes his return to the ODI setup after first being called up in 2022.

Cummins' Injury Concerns Mount

The 32-year-old pace spearhead hasn't bowled since mid-July when he suffered the back stress fracture. While the decision to skip the India ODIs was expected as part of his recovery plan for the Ashes starting November 21, recent scans have revealed troubling news—the injury hasn't fully healed, raising serious doubts about his availability for the entire five-Test series against England.

According to sources quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, while the stress "hot spot" is showing signs of healing, it hasn't cleared sufficiently for Cummins to resume bowling. This development could see Steve Smith take over as captain for the Ashes opener in Perth, with Scott Boland likely joining Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the pace attack.

Renshaw Gets Another Opportunity

Queensland batsman Matthew Renshaw returns to the ODI fold after an impressive domestic season where he scored 350 runs at an average of 50. He also impressed against Sri Lanka A with scores of 80, 106, and 62, demonstrating the form that earned him this recall.

The left-hander was previously called into the ODI squad for Pakistan in 2022 as cover but didn't make his debut. Now 29, he finally has a genuine chance to break into the playing XI against a strong Indian side led by new captain Shubman Gill, who replaced Rohit Sharma at the helm.

Squad Composition and Strategy

Chair of Selectors George Bailey explained the selection approach:

"We have named a squad for the ODI series and 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 pace attack will be led by veterans Starc and Hazlewood, with support from Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis. Alex Carey will miss the Perth opener to play Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia and will skip the T20Is entirely to focus on Ashes preparation. Cameron Green will also transition to Sheffield Shield after the ODI leg to prepare for the Test summer.

T20 Squad Adjustments

For the five-match T20I series following the ODIs, Josh Inglis returns after recovering from a minor calf injury, while Nathan Ellis rejoins after attending the birth of his first child. Glenn Maxwell remains unavailable due to a wrist fracture suffered during the New Zealand tour.

The Broader Picture

Australia's workload management strategy reflects their priorities: keeping key players fresh for the Ashes while maintaining competitive squads for the India series. However, Cummins' prolonged absence due to injury rather than rest has become a genuine concern, particularly with the Ashes just weeks away.

The India ODI series begins October 19 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide (October 23) and Sydney (October 25). The T20I series runs from October 29 to November 8 across five venues.