Why are Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell not included in Australia's ODI squad for India series?

Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell last played an ODI for Australia in ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Australian Cricket Team announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Indian Cricket Team on Tuesday, October 7. They will host India for three ODIs and five T20Is during the campaign. One of the major talking points from the announcement was that of regular captain Pat Cummins, who has been ruled out of the series as he is recovering from a lumbar bone stress. In his absence, Mitchell Marsh will lead the side.

Pacer Mitchell Starc, who last played an ODI in November 2024, has returned for the series against India. Mitchell Owen and Matthew Renshaw are expected to make their ODI debut during the campaign.

Batter Marnus Labuschagne was dropped from the squad for the series following his poor batting show in Australia’s last ODI series against South Africa. Wicket-keeper Alex Carey has been also named in the squad, but he will miss the first ODI in Perth to play for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. However, the announcement left many surprised as the legends in Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell weren’t named in the squad.

Why are Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell not included in Australia’s ODI squad for India series?

The reason behind that is both the stars announced their retirement from ODI cricket earlier this year. Smith pulled down curtains on his ODI career in March after ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He will continue to play for Australia in test and T20I cricket.

On the other hand, Maxwell announced his retirement from ODI cricket in June 2025 to focus on the shortest format. Moreover, Maxwell has been ruled out of the T20I series against India due to a wrist injury he sustained prior to the New Zealand T20I series. He recently underwent surgery on his injured wrist.

Meanwhile, the ODI series between Australia and India will commence on October 19 with the first game at Perth Stadium, Perth. The second and third ODIs will be played on October 23 and 25 respectively. Later, both the sides will collide in five T20I games from October 29 to November 8.

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (C), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

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