Image Credit: twitter.com/@BCCI
Before the three-match ODI series begins in Lucknow on Thursday, here is a possible starting line-up for India.
In the T20I series that ended on Tuesday, India defeated South Africa 2-1. The team captained by Rohit Sharma is now on its route to Australia to compete in the ICC T20 World Cup. In a three-match ODI series beginning on Thursday, the second tier of Indian cricketers will face the Proteas, with Shikhar Dhawan serving as captain.
Dhawan has extensive experience wearing the captain hat and has previously captained Team India. For the series, Shreyas Iyer will serve as his deputy. Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, and Deepak Chahar, who have been named standby players for the World Cup, are anticipated to benefit greatly from the series by getting much-needed practice.
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In order to fill the void left by important players, newcomers Rajat Patidar, Mukesh Kumar, and Shahbaz Ahmed have been added to the squad. They could potentially make their team debuts for the men in blue during this series. Patidar and Mukesh have won honours for their exceptional performances for India A against New Zealand A in a recent series.
The series offers players a wonderful chance to attract the selectors’ attention for upcoming competitions. Attention will be paid to Sanju Samson and Shubman Gill’s behaviour in the absence of powerful weaponry. In subsequent games, the bowlers Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Bishnoi will also be evaluated as possible replacements for the senior group.
Rahul Tripathi and Patidar, two of the top batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will compete for a berth in the middle order. Dhawan and company may decide to utilise Ishan Kishan, a power player and finisher. Bishnoi and left arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav will probably split the workload. Chahar and Siraj might still be used by the hosts as pace bowlers, and Thakur could be added for his versatility.
The visiting team, South Africa, will compete at full strength against the hosts. The second team of Team India will need to perform above its level to overcome the visitors, who are hoping to qualify for the World Cup with a series victory.
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