Kohli returns, Rohit to join India squad for West Indies ODIs starting September 27

Virat Kohli will return to India’s ODI setup and Rohit Sharma is expected to join the squad for the three-match series against the West Indies that begins on September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Rohit is due to link up with the team on Thursday, September 24, ahead of the opening game.

The series is part of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup and will be played across three venues, with the second ODI scheduled for New Delhi and the third in Chandigarh. Several regulars are unavailable because they are with India’s Asian Games squad in Japan, creating opportunities for new faces and bringing some experienced players back into the ODI mix. Team management intend to use the matches to assess players and combinations ahead of larger tournaments.

As per the Times of India, players will begin assembling from tonight and every member of the squad is expected to join the side by tomorrow. The staggered arrival follows selection adjustments related to Asian Games commitments and workload management decisions.

Rohit Sharma is returning to ODI cricket after a two-month break and has been seen training and batting in the nets as he prepares for the series. His ODI future was debated during India’s series against England earlier this year, but he scored 138 off 110 in that game and became the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s.

Most of India’s first-choice ODI players are currently with the Asian Games squad; those named as absent include vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Their unavailability has opened doors for players such as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Auqib Nabi, while Ravindra Jadeja has returned to the ODI setup; KL Rahul will also be under particular scrutiny during the series. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was withdrawn from the Asian Games squad to receive more match time and to continue building his bowling workload.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir had earlier backed Reddy’s development with the ball and said, "From Nitish’s point of view, it’s actually a great thing that he’s been withdrawn from the T20 format, and he’ll get game time against the West Indies as well," Gambhir said.

The three-match ODI series starts on September 27 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram; Rohit Sharma is expected to join the India squad on Thursday, September 24.