IND vs SA: With a three-match ODI series against South Africa approaching, the Indian selectors are set to finalise the squad later this week. But the team management faces an unexpected leadership dilemma
as both designated captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer are battling injuries at a crucial time.
Gill, who took over as India's full-time ODI captain earlier this year, is recovering from a neck injury suffered during the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens. His participation in the second Test remains uncertain, and should he miss that game, the selectors may prefer to give him additional rest instead of rushing him back for the ODIs.
Iyer's situation is clearer. The Mumbai batter sustained a rib injury while fielding in the third ODI against Australia in Sydney on October 25 and is still in the recovery phase, which will take till Feb 26. His return for the South Africa series is highly unlikely, leaving India without both their appointed ODI leaders.
This scenario opens up the captaincy race once again. Several senior names naturally come into consideration-Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Rohit, despite guiding India to the ICC Champions Trophy title earlier this year, was recently relieved of his ODI captaincy and is not expected to be reinstated immediately. Hardik is no longer part of the leadership group, and Kohli has not led India in any format since 2021.
That leaves Rahul as the most probable option to take charge if Gill is unavailable. But that doesn't mean that Kohli and Rohit can't have another chance.
The batting reshuffle could see Yashasvi Jaiswal step in as the frontline opener, with Ruturaj Gaikwad-fresh from back-to-back Player of the Match performances against South Africa A-serving as backup. Tilak Varma is likely to be slotted at No. 4 in place of Iyer, while Assam's Riyan Parag may be in contention for an ODI comeback.
India's squad for ODI series against South Africa: KL Rahul (C & WK), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rishabh Pant (WK), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj.
Behind the stumps, Rishabh Pant is expected to return, replacing Dhruv Jurel, who travelled to Australia as the reserve wicketkeeper. The bowling combinations are expected to remain stable, with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar forming the spin trio. Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are the preferred seam options, though the selectors will also weigh Nitish Kumar Reddy's position as Hardik returns to the all-rounder role.
India's squad announcement later this week will reveal how boldly the selectors respond to this unexpected leadership void.
