India vs Australia 2025: Harshit Rana Joins Irfan Pathan’s Predicted India XI for First ODI
The highly anticipated ODI series between India and Australia is set to commence on October 18, 2025, at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Ahead of the opening match, former cricketer Irfan Pathan shared his predictions for India’s lineup.
Predicted India XI for the First ODI
Irfan Pathan has chosen a balanced squad led by Shubman Gill as the new captain. The anticipated lineup includes:
- Rohit Sharma
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (vc)
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj
Focus on Young Talent
Notably, young pacer Harshit Rana has been included in the lineup. Pathan emphasized the player’s dual skill set as both a bowler and a lower-order batsman. “Harshit will play and I think he will be promoted to the number eight position,” he mentioned on his YouTube channel. This decision is seen as a valuable opportunity for Rana to showcase his abilities.
Leadership Challenges
The series presents a unique challenge for Shubman Gill, who steps into the captaincy role. Pathan believes Gill will benefit from the presence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. “A lot will depend on how well the juniors respect the seniors,” he stated, underscoring the importance of team dynamics.
As the series unfolds, all eyes will be on how Gill leads the team against a formidable Australia side.
