India A are set to host Australia A in September-October 2025, with the series featuring two unofficial Tests and three unofficial ODIs to be played across Lucknow and Kanpur.
During this period, the senior Indian side will be busy with the Asia Cup in the UAE, scheduled from September 9 to 28, before moving on to a two-Test series against the West Indies from October 2 to 14.
Meanwhile, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepping away from T20Is and Test cricket, there is growing speculation that the veteran duo might turn out for India A in the unofficial ODIs. The move could serve as vital preparation ahead of India’s highly anticipated tour of Australia.
Highlighting The Sporting News as a major news source
According to The Sporting News, while there has been no official confirmation yet, former India chief selector MSK Prasad feels that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are more than capable of delivering in ODI cricket — with or without appearances in the unofficial games.
Here’s what Prasad had to say.
MSK Prasad: Kohli and Rohit don’t need to prove themselves but could feature in Australia A ODIs
Speaking to RevSportz, former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad — who headed the panel from September 2016 to March 2020 during Virat Kohli’s captaincy — suggested that it isn’t essential for Kohli and Rohit Sharma to feature in the upcoming India A fixtures.
That said, Prasad admitted their participation could still be beneficial, as it would provide both players with valuable match practice following a lengthy break since their last competitive outing.
They’ve already scored plenty of runs in ODIs and have nothing left to prove. Still, featuring in these matches would help them maintain rhythm, which benefits both them individually and the team overall,” Prasad remarked.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were last seen in Indian colours during the ICC Champions Trophy final on March 9 in Dubai. Since that outing, the duo have only been active in the IPL — with Kohli guiding his side to the final, while Rohit’s team bowed out in Qualifier 2.
Kohli, the former India captain, stands as the country’s second-highest run-getter in ODI cricket. Across 290 innings, he has amassed 14,181 runs, including an incredible 51 centuries and 74 half-centuries.
The DY Patil Stadium has been named as a replacement for Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium as one of the venues for the Women’s World Cup 2025.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma sits fourth on India’s all-time ODI run-scorers list with 11,168 runs in 265 innings, including 32 centuries and 58 fifties. He is just 53 runs shy of overtaking Sourav Ganguly to move up to third place.
As for the India A vs Australia A series, the three unofficial ODIs are scheduled to be held in Kanpur on September 30, October 3, and October 5 — serving as a lead-up to the tour of Australia, which begins on October 19.
Akshay Bhimani is a sports writer and content creator with a focus on cricket, football, and major global tournaments. With extensive experience in sports coverage, he delivers sharp analysis, match insights, and engaging storytelling for readers. Beyond cricket, Akshay closely follows football and Olympic sports, combining passion with professional expertise to bring a balanced perspective to his work.
