Rishabh Pant to replace Ruturaj Gaikwad? Indias predicted playing XI for 2nd ODI vs South Africa
Will Rishabh Pant or Tilak Verma replace Ruturaj Gaikwad at no.4? Here is a look at India's predicted playing XI for the 2nd ODI against South Africa in Raipur.
India will look to continue their winning run and take an unassailable 2-0 lead when they lock horns with South Africa in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Wednesday, December 03. India defeated South Africa by 17 runs in the series opener in Ranchi on December 29.
Virat Kohli slammed a magnificent ton, while Rohit Sharma and skipper KL Rahul contributed with half-centuries to help India post a huge total of 349 runs on the board. The bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana, did well to bundle out South Africa for 332 runs to secure a thrilling win for the hosts in the first ODI.
India might consider making a change in their playing XI for the 2nd ODI in Raipur, considering the nature of the wicket at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. The venue has hosted only a solitary ODI and a T20I so far, and the pitch is expected to assist both the pacers and spinners.
India might consider leaving out one of their spin all-rounders to bring back Nitish Reddy or play another specialist batter in the XI. Washington Sundar might make way for Reddy or Dhruv Jurel, who can bat in the lower middle order. Reddy seems a more viable option, considering his all-round abilities.
Will Ruturaj Gaikwad get dropped for 2nd ODI?
Ruturaj Gaikwad is coming out to bat at no.4 in the first ODI raised a few eyebrows. However, his selection was on the cards and justified, considering his stellar form for India A and in domestic cricket. While there have been calls to replace Gaikwad with Rishabh Pant or Tilak Varma at no.4, the Indian team management might continue with the right-hander at the crucial position.
Gaikwad is one of the most technically skilled batters around and has a good game against both pace and spin. If backed properly, he can be a great prospect for India in the middle order in ODIs. Pant is unlikely to return to the XI as a stand-in skipper Rahul will continue to keep wickets.
Gaikwad couldn't make the most of his opportunity at no.4 in the first ODI as he was dismissed cheaply on 8, however, he seems to have the backing of the Indian team management in the ongoing series. There is unlikely to be any change in India's top 4 in the 2nd ODI with Rohit Sharma opening with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli continuing at no.3.
However, there might be a change in the bowling line-up if the team management decides to drop Sundar in favour of Reddy, who can bat in the lower middle order and bowl handy pace. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh are likely to continue as the two lead pacers along with Prasidh Krishna in a three-man pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav will be the lone spinner in the XI.
India's predicted playing XI for 2nd ODI against South Africa:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (c/wk), Washington Sundar/Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna