Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Fly to Australia With First Batch as Gautam Gambhir Departs Later

Senior Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma departed for Australia on Wednesday morning, October 15, 2025, as part of the first batch of players heading for the three-match ODI series starting October 19. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and several coaching staff members were scheduled to leave later in the evening, marking a staggered departure strategy as India prepares for a white-ball tour in Australia.

The Morning Departure

The first group of the Indian players checked into Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday morning, greeted by a large crowd of adoring fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes. The players traveling on the morning flight included:

• Virat Kohli

• Rohit Sharma

• Shubman Gill (ODI and Test captain)

• Yashasvi Jaiswal

• Nitish Kumar Reddy

• Arshdeep Singh

• Prasidh Krishna

• Select support staff members

The atmosphere at Terminal 3 was electric, with fans lining up outside the entrance, some holding posters and jerseys hoping for autographs. Kohli obliged several supporters, including signing a poster for a young Royal Challengers Bengaluru fan—a gesture that quickly went viral on social media.

Gambhir's Evening Departure

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, along with the remaining coaching staff members, was scheduled to depart later Wednesday evening on a separate flight. This staggered departure approach allows for flexibility in managing the touring party's logistics while ensuring all personnel arrive in Perth with adequate time to prepare for the series opener on October 19.

The coaching contingent travelling with Gambhir likely includes bowling coach Morne Morkel, batting coach Ryan ten Doeschate, fielding coach T Dilip, physiotherapists, trainers, and video analysts—the full support structure needed for a comprehensive overseas tour.

Format Specialists to Follow

India's tour of Australia comprises eight white-ball matches—three ODIs followed by five T20 Internationals. The ODI series runs from October 19-25, with matches in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney. The T20I series then begins on October 29 and continues through November 8.

Format specialists who will only participate in the T20I leg are scheduled to depart India on October 22. This group includes T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, with Gill as vice-captain, along with Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh.

This scheduling allows ODI-only players to complete their assignment and return home before T20 specialists join the squad, optimising player workload management—a key consideration given India's packed international calendar.

The Rohit-Kohli Question

The ODI series has generated significant buzz primarily due to questions surrounding the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom have now retired from Test cricket and T20 Internationals. At 38 and 36 respectively, they represent India only in the 50-over format, with the 2027 ODI World Cup still two years away.

Their inclusion in the Australia squad came amid speculation about whether selectors view them as part of long-term plans. Shubman Gill's appointment as ODI captain—replacing Rohit—added fuel to this debate, though both veterans retained their places in the squad for this series.

Gautam Gambhir addressed these questions during Tuesday's post-series press conference following India's 2-0 Test sweep over West Indies in Delhi. The head coach was deliberately evasive about their 2027 World Cup prospects:

"The 50-over World Cup is still two and a half years away. It is very important to stay in the present. Obviously they are quality players. They are coming back. Their experience is going to be valuable in Australia."

He continued:

"Hopefully those two guys can have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team we can have a successful series."

Gambhir's comments suggest a series-by-series evaluation approach rather than long-term commitments, placing the onus on Rohit and Kohli to prove their continued value through performances.

The Complete ODI Squad

India's full ODI squad for the Australia series includes:

Leadership: Shubman Gill (Captain), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul

Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel

All-rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav

Fast Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana

Notable exclusions include Mohammed Shami (not match-fit after injury layoff) and Ravindra Jadeja (dropped despite being vice-captain for the West Indies Tests). The squad reflects a blend of experience and youth, with debutants like Harshit Rana getting opportunities alongside established stars.

Perth Provides Stern Test

The series opener at Perth's Optus Stadium on October 19 presents India with its toughest challenge. The venue's fast, bouncy pitch traditionally favours pace bowling, making it one of the most difficult grounds for visiting teams in Australia.

India's pace attack—led by Mohammed Siraj and featuring Arshdeep Singh's left-arm variation plus young talents Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna—will need to exploit these conditions while preventing Australia's powerful batting lineup from dominating.

The match begins at 7:50 AM IST (10:20 AM local time), providing Indian fans an early-morning viewing opportunity. The second ODI follows on October 23 in Adelaide before the series concludes on October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Historical Context

This marks Kohli and Rohit's first international appearances in over seven months. Both last represented India during the Champions Trophy 2025 final in March, where India clinched the title. Since then, both announced retirements from Test cricket and T20Is in May 2025, choosing to focus exclusively on the ODI format.

For Rohit, this tour carries additional significance as his first assignment after being replaced as ODI captain. How he handles the transition from leader to senior player under Gill's captaincy will be closely watched. For Kohli, questions about his ability to return to form after a seven-month break loom large.

Both veterans spent extended periods away from competitive cricket—Kohli in London with his family, Rohit preparing at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Whether this rest benefits or hinders their match readiness remains to be seen.