The ODI series against South Africa is set to commence on November 30 and the Indian selectors are already going to announce the squad; nonetheless, injuries to two critical players have made the selection quite tough. The doubtful status of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer has compelled the Ajit Agarkar-led council to look for alternatives.

Gill Doubtful After Neck Injury

Shubman Gill, who is also the regular captain for ODIs of India, suffered a neck injury while playing on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He has already been for the second Test in Guwahati. The management might opt to rest him completely for the entire ODI series so as to prevent the injury from getting worse.

In case of Gill’s unavailability Ruturaj Gaikwad is the most probable candidate to come into the squad. Still he might compete for the spot with Yashasvi Jaiswal who is quite a strong contender to take the opening slot. Jaiswal is already being noticed by the selectors for his form, temperament, and shot-making skill, and the absence of Gill could pave the way for him to become a long-term ODI option.

Shreyas Iyer Unlikely to Feature

It is almost certain that vice-captain Shreyas Iyer will not be able to play in the series as he is out due to a major injury suffered in the last ODI against Australia that took place in October. His recovery process is still long; hence, it is almost sure that he will not be part of the South Africa tour.

To take Iyer’s pivotal middle-order place, Tilak Varma is likely to be the leading candidate. The young left-hander has shown that he can rise to the occasion — most notably when he scored an unbeaten 69 against Pakistan during the Asia Cup final. His adaptability to different batting positions (No. 3, 4, and 5) is also a plus.

Captaincy Possibility: KL Rahul

In the event of Gill’s absence, KL Rahul may captain the team. Rahul has been the one India trusts most for leading players to take a break in ODIs, and his regular batting and keeping skills make him the most suitable choice.

However, the rest of the squad is likely to remain unchanged.

India will most probably keep the majority of the players that just played against Australia. it indicates the continuance of a good combination of experience and youth in both batting and bowling.

Projected ODI Squad of India for South Africa 2025

Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad/Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma

Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel

Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel

All-rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav

Pacers: Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana

Backup Opener: Yashasvi Jaiswal