Ashwin included in India's ODI squad against Australia; Rohit and Kohli spared for the first two matches.

Veteran spinner R Ashwin returned to the Indian ODI team on Monday for the upcoming three-match series against Australia, while senior players such as captain Rohit Sharma and senior batsman Virat Kohli were rested for the first two games.

Ashwin, who last played an ODI in South Africa in January 2022, could be drafted into the Indian squad for the World Cup if Axar Patel fails to recover by the September 28 ICC deadline. Axar suffered a quadriceps injury in Sri Lanka during the recent Asia Cup.

Washington Sundar, a leg-spinner, has also been selected for all three games and is a backup option for the World Cup.

Rahul will lead KL The first two ODIs before Rohit returns to captain a full strength squad in the third and final ODI before the World Cup begins on October 5.

The first ODI will be contested on September 22 in Mohali, the second on September 24 in Indore, and the third on September 27 in Rajkot.

Squad for the first two ODIs: KL Rahul (captain), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Squad for third ODI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel (subject to fitness), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohammed Siraj.