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Shikhar Dhawan to lead; surprise call-up for a player after 6 years: India's likely squad for South Africa ODIs

Shikhar Dhawan looks all but set to retain India's captaincy in the ODI series against South Africa. With the first-choice players leaving for T20 World Cup after the first leg of the series, a second-string Team India will face Proteas in the 50-over matches. VVS Laxman will coach the Men in Blue in Rahul Dravid's absence.

Rishav Narang

Updated Sep 26, 2022, 08:39 IST

Shikhar Dhawan is set to lead India in South Africa ODIs.

Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Team India will host South Africa in 3 T20Is and as many ODIs in September-October
A second-string Team India will face Proteas in ODIs
Shikhar Dhawan is set to lead the Men in Blue once again

Team India is done and dusted with the home series against Australia and will now host South Africa in six white-ball matches. Since all the first-choice players will leave for Australia soon after the T20I series, a second-string Team India will face the Proteas in the ODI series that will follow.

Shikhar Dhawan has been India's go-to captain in these situations and the senior player looks set to lead the team once again. Apart from a stand-in captain, India will also have a temporary coach in VVS Laxman. The batting icon will perform the job in the absence of Rahul Dravid.

BCCI has already announced the T20I squad while the fans are waiting for the ODI squad. The three 50-over matches are scheduled to be played on October 6, 9 and 11. Before the BCCI's announcement, here's a look at the probable squad for the series -

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan will be leading the team and looks set to be joined by Shubman Gill at the top. Gill partnered Dhawan in the ODI series against West Indies and in a game against Zimbabwe. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been in and out of the ODI team since January 2022 and looks set to retain his place, along with Rahul Tripathi.

Middle-order

Rajat Patidar is likely to be handed his maiden India call-up courtesy of his recent form for India A. The right-handed batsman has hit a purple patch since IPL and has high chances of earning his maiden call-up. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are likely to retain their spots.

All-rounders

With Hardik Pandya away in Australia and the selectors picking Rishi Dhawan as the sole pace-bowling all-rounder in the ongoing series against New Zealand A, the senior player might make his India comeback after 6 years. Rishi came in the scheme of things earlier this year but missed out. He could be a surprise pick in the squad. Shahbaz Ahmed, who travelled to Zimbabwe for 3 ODIs, is also likely to retain his spot.

Bowlers

India are unlikely to make major changes in this department and the likes of Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Avesh Khan might share the pace-bowling duties again.

Kuldeep Yadav and Rahul Chahar are doing the spin-bowling duties for India A and might do the same job for the Men in Blue against South Africa.

India's probable squad for South Africa ODIs: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Rajat Patidar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ishan Kishan, Rishi Dhawan, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rahul Chahar

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