India’s latest ODI squad has thrown up a striking selection puzzle: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back, but several of the players who featured in the previous ODI setup are missing from the West Indies series.

The biggest names absent from the 15-member squad include Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh. Their absence, however, does not have one common explanation. Several are part of India’s Asian Games plans, while other omissions come amid changes to the team’s ODI combination.

At the same time, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy have returned to the ODI setup.

The three-match India vs West Indies ODI series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, followed by matches in Guwahati and New Chandigarh.

Why are Shreyas Iyer, Bumrah and Ishan Kishan not in the ODI squad?

The most straightforward explanation applies to a group of prominent names: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are part of India’s Asian Games combination, which means they were not available for the West Indies ODI selection.

Iyer’s case is particularly interesting because his absence from the ODI squad does not mean he has been pushed out of India’s plans altogether. He has been named captain of the T20I side for the West Indies series and will also lead India’s Asian Games campaign.

That also explains why the ODI vice-captaincy has changed. With Iyer unavailable, KL Rahul has been named Shubman Gill’s deputy in the 50-over squad.

Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant are also missing

Two other major names deserve attention when looking at the omissions.

Hardik Pandya has not been included in the ODI or T20I squads announced for the West Indies series, while Rishabh Pant has also missed out on the white-ball squads. Pant is instead set to lead the Rest of India side in the Irani Cup.

Hardik’s absence is separate from the Asian Games explanation attached to Iyer, Bumrah, Ishan and others. Reports on the selection noted that he is scheduled to return to competitive cricket in October, subject to fitness clearance.

So, rather than treating all the missing stars as one group, the selection picture breaks down into different categories: Asian Games commitments, separate selection decisions and players following different comeback or domestic schedules.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stay in the ODI picture

Perhaps the biggest headline from the squad announcement is who did make it.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have both been retained for the three-match ODI series. The pair now play international cricket only in the 50-over format after retiring from Tests and T20Is.

Rohit’s selection comes after questions about his place in the ODI side following India’s England tour. He had scored 138 in his last ODI appearance against England at Lord’s in July, according to reports.

With both veterans continuing in the ODI setup, the West Indies series becomes another opportunity for India to work with a combination that includes established stars alongside players being brought back into the side.

Jadeja, Gaikwad and Jaiswal return

The ODI squad also sees several players return after missing the three-match ODI series in England in July.

Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Dhruv Jurel are back, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been moved into the ODI squad after initially being named in India’s Asian Games group.

Jadeja’s return is particularly notable given that his previous ODI appearance came in January, according to the squad reports.

The changes also open up opportunities for players who were not part of the England ODI squad.

Two new names could make their ODI debuts

India have handed maiden ODI call-ups to Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir.

Nabi, a medium-pace bowler, has received his first senior ODI call-up, while Dhir provides an all-round option. Their inclusion gives India two potential debutants for the West Indies series.

Their presence is one of the clearest signs of the squad changes taking place around the senior core.

India’s West Indies ODI squad

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Naman Dhir.

The bigger selection picture

The West Indies series therefore presents a considerably different ODI squad from the one India took to England.

Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Bumrah, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh are tied up with the Asian Games group, while Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant are also absent from the ODI squad for separate selection reasons. At the other end, Rohit and Kohli remain part of the 50-over plans, while Jadeja and several other players return.

There is also a new leadership arrangement, with Gill continuing as captain and Rahul taking over as vice-captain, while Iyer moves into the T20I leadership role.

For India, the three ODIs against West Indies begin on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, with the second match in Guwahati on September 30 and the third in New Chandigarh on October 3.