In another shocker just ahead of the new year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the ODI team of India that would take on South Africa in a three-match series n the rainbow nation.
KL Rahul, who was appointed the vice-captain of the ODI team on December 08th would now lead the team as Rohit Sharma is unable to tour due to injury concerns. Along with Rahul, it is probably the first time that an outer and out bowler has been given the vice-captaincy responsibilities of the Indian ODI team.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was recently appointed vice-captain on a tour of Sri Lanka, but he is considered more than a decent lower-order batter as well.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Mr KL Rahul as Captain for the ODI series as Mr Rohit Sharma is ruled out owing to an injury,” BCCI said in a Twitter post.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer, both of whom performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy have also been given ODI call ups. While this is the maiden ODI call-up for Iyer who shot to fame after the second leg of the IPL 2021, for Gaikwad it would be the second occasion post the Sri Lanka tour.
Other than these major announcements, Ravichandran Ashwin has also been called up for the first time for the 50 over format post-2017. Yuzevdnara Chahal will be the second spinner and Washinton Sundar third in the 18 man squad. Along with Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Mohd. Siraj are the pacers in the squad.
The first ODI of the three-match series will be played on January 19 at Boland Park.
Team India for three-match ODI series
KL Rahul (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Y Chahal, R Ashwin, W Sundar, J Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj