Ruturaj Gaikwad at no.4, no Rishabh Pant: Indias predicted playing XI for 1st ODI against South Africa
With no Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer in the squad, Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to bat at no.4 in the first ODI between India and South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday. Here is a look at India's predicted playing XI for the 1st ODI.
KL Rahul-led India will lock horns with Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. India will be looking to bounce back after getting clean-swept 2-0 in the recently concluded two-match Test series against the Proteas at home. India will be without regular captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer in the series.
While Gill is recovering from a neck injury, Iyer is undergoing rehab after recently recovering from a spleen injury. In the duo's absence, India will have a new opener and no.4 in the ODI series against South Africa. Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to open in the absence of Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad might replace Iyer at no.4 for India.
Ruturaj is competing with Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant no.4 slot. However, he is likely to pip the duo, considering his red-hot form. The right-hander has been in brilliant form in the domestic circuit and finished as the highest run-getter in the unofficial ODI series against South Africa A, where he slammed 210 runs in 3 matches, including a century and a half-century.
Gaikwad was spotted having a long chat with India's head coach during India's practice session in Ranchi on Friday, and looks set to pip Pant and Tilak for the no.4 role. Pant is unlikely to feature in the XI as Rahul will keep wickets. Captain Rahul is likely to bat at no.5, with the all-rounders making up the lower middle order.
Will Nitish Reddy make the cut?
India are likely to play all three all-rounders in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. The pitch is expected to assist spinners as the game progresses in Ranchi, thus, India might consider playing both Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja in the XI. Nitish Reddy is likely to be the only pace all-rounder in the side.
Rohit Sharma will continue to open and will pair up with Jaiswal at the top in the absence of Gill. Virat Kohli will bat at no.3, with Gaikwad taking the number 4 spot in the absence of Iyer. Rahul will bat at no.5, followed by Axar Patel at no.6. Jadeja and Reddy are likely to bat at no.7 and 8, respectively.
Kuldeep Yadav will be the lone specialist spinner in the XI. Harshit Rana is likely to be the first-choice pacer in the XI, while Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna will be competing for the second pacer's slot. Prasidh is likely to pip Arshdeep in the XI and will partner Rana in the pace attack alongside Reddy.
India's predicted playing XI in 1st ODI against South Africa:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav