IND vs SA, ODIs Preview: Big Opportunity For Fringe Players To Make A Statement

05.10.2022 - 11:19 sports.ndtv.com

A new-look Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will aim to make a statement and be in the reckoning for next year's 50-over World Cup when the three-match ODI series against South Africa begins on Thursday.

In the absence of big guns like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin, who are off to Australia for the T20 World Cup, the Indian selectors opted for a fresh squad that includes Mukesh Kumar and Rajat Patidar, who earned their maiden call ups.

The squad also features a few T20 World Cup reserve players. Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer, who is part of the reserves named for the T20 World Cup, will serve as Dhawan's deputy in the series.

Right-arm pacer Deepak Chahar and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, the other players from the standby list, have also been included in the ODI team for the matches against South Africa.

cricket South Africa Cricket Team India Cricket Team Ravi Bishnoi Ravichandran Ashwin Shikhar Dhawan Shreyas Iyer Kuldeep Yadav Mohammed Siraj Sanju Samson Rajat Patidar Australia South Africa New Zealand India Bangalore

India spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the Player of the Match in the third ODI against South Africa on Tuesday. With figures of 4 for 18, Kuldeep bamboozled the Proteas batters, helping India bundle them out for just 99 runs. After the hosts effortlessly chased down the paltry target in New Delhi, Kuldeep took to Twitter to reflect on the 3-match ODI series. Yuzvendra Chahal, fellow Indian spinner and a good friend of Kuldeep, commented on left-arm wrist-spinner's post.

"I Have Always Felt...": Ravichandran Ashwin Makes Big Comment On Kuldeep Yadav's Career

Once branded as India's No. 1 overseas spinner by Ravi Shastri, Kuldeep Yadav's stocks haven't hit the momentum they were expected to after the first couple of years of his career. Though Kuldeep is gradually making a comeback in white-ball cricket, he still remains far from being given an opportunity in Tests. Ravichandran Ashwin, who continues to remain a huge pillar for India in the longest format, however, has big hopes from Kuldeep in the format.

IND vs SA 3rd ODI: Openers In Focus As India Look To Seal Series Against South Africa

The second-string Indian team would look for some stability from its openers as the hosts aim to punch above their weight and seal a memorable series victory against South Africa in the third and final ODI in New Delhi on Tuesday. After going down narrowly in the series-opener, the might of the Indian white-ball depth was in full display as the hosts won the second ODI comfortably to level the three-match series 1-1. But the Indian think tank would be a little concerned about the opening pair of captain Shikhar Dhawan and young Shubhman Gill.

R Ashwin Responds To Ramiz Raja's Statement Saying India Has Started To 'Respect' Pakistan

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja recently made a strong statement about the cricketing equation between India and Pakistan. Ramiz stressed how the Indian team has started to 'respect' Pakistan as an opponent now while also terming Rohit Sharma's men as a "billion-dollar side". When India stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin was informed about Ramiz's comments, he gave an apt response. Ashwin, in a press conference from Australia on Monday, said that he wasn't aware of the comments from Ramiz until he was just informed.

Shikhar Dhawan's Cheeky Remark 'Thanking' Keshav Maharaj For Batting First In Second ODI Leaves Everyone In Splits

India's stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan received a bonus at the time of the toss as his South African counterpart, Keshav Maharaj, opted to bat first after winning the coin toss. The decision turned out to be a brutal one for the Proteas who struggled to control the flow of runs when the Indians came out to bat in the evening. After the match, Dhawan cheekily thanked Maharaj for opting to bat first, admitting that things could've been more difficult for India if they were made to bowl second.

India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan Set Up India's Series-Levelling Win vs South Africa

Shreyas Iyer struck a sublime century while Ishan Kishan displayed his brute force against a formidable South African attack to set up a series levelling seven-wicket win for India in the second ODI here on Sunday. Mohammed Siraj led an inexperienced Indian bowling lineup brilliantly to restrict South Africa to 278/7 after the visitors opted to bat. Iyer made his second ODI hundred (113 not out off 111) and shared a match winning 161-run stand with Kishan (93 off 84) to ensure a comfortable win in 45.5 overs for a second string Indian team.