Mitchell Starc Returns as Australia Names Squads for India ODI and T20 Series

Australia has recalled pace spearhead Mitchell Starc to its One-Day International (ODI) squad for the upcoming three-match series against India, beginning on October 19. The veteran left-arm fast bowler headlines four additions to the squad alongside Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, and Mitch Owen, as the Australians aim to rebound from a 2–1 series loss to South Africa in August.

With regular skipper Pat Cummins still recovering from lumbar bone stress ahead of the Ashes, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will continue to lead the side. The team will rely on a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents to find form ahead of a busy summer schedule.

Starc’s inclusion is a major boost for the Australian bowling attack, which struggled for consistency in recent months. The 35-year-old’s experience and ability to deliver with the new ball and at the death could prove crucial against a formidable Indian batting lineup.

Joining him are Renshaw and Short — both of whom have impressed in domestic white-ball cricket — and young all-rounder Mitch Owen, who earns a maiden ODI call-up. The selectors appear keen to test depth and balance, particularly with some senior players managing workloads.

The full ODI squad features Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Owen, Renshaw, Short, Starc, and Adam Zampa.

Meanwhile, Australia has also announced squads for the first two of five T20 Internationals, set to begin on October 29. In a notable change, Alex Carey has been left out of the T20 lineup, with Josh Inglis returning as the designated wicketkeeper after recovering from a calf strain. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis also rejoins the side following the birth of his first child.

Marsh will again captain the T20 team, which blends established names like Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa with newer faces such as Matthew Kuhnemann and Owen. The T20 squad comprises Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Bartlett, Tim David, Dwarshuis, Ellis, Hazlewood, Head, Inglis, Kuhnemann, Owen, Short, Stoinis, and Zampa.

The dual-series tour promises to be a crucial test of Australia’s white-ball depth, with selectors likely to use the India fixtures to fine-tune combinations ahead of a demanding international calendar. For Starc, in particular, the India series offers the perfect platform to reassert his dominance and remind fans why he remains one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket.