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India wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan will miss the Test series against South Africa due to personal reasons. The BCCI didn't mention the exact reason for Ishan's release. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named KS Bharat as his replacement. Ishan hasn't featured for the Indian team since the conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023, where India were beaten by Australia in the final.
As India took on South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series, returned the popular Sanju Samson to the fold while Sai Sudharsan made his debut for the Indian, having impressed the selectors with his exploits in List A cricket. As India skipper KL Rahul announced the playing Xi for the series opener, two rookies -- Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh -- were denied debuts in the 50-over format of the game. In fact, it was Samson who won the battle against Rinku for the finisher's spot in the team.
India vs South Africa 1st ODI, Live Updates:Putting aside the Cricket World Cup 2023 final loss heartbreak, the Indian cricket team gears up for its first ODI assignment, since the conclusion of the quadrennial event, as they take on hosts South Africa in Johannesburg. KL Rahul will lead a team with a mixture of youthful exuberance and experience, as the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill among others rested ahead of the two-match Test series.
KL Rahul said he is willing to bat in the middle order and keep wicket across formats as he looks to cement a role in India's test and Twenty20 International squads.
With the 50-over World Cup having concluded last month, ODI is the least priority among formats and KL Rahul conceded that while the template they set at the global event continues, one can't expect greenhorns to just step in and play like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It is worth noting that both the veterans Rohit and Virat have been excluded for the white-ball matches against South Africa with more and more newcomers getting a chance to showcase their talent.
India brutally thrashed South Africa by 106 runs in the third and final T20I on Thursday as the three-match series ended in a draw. After the first match got washed out due to the rain in Durban, South Africa won the second T20I by five wickets (DLS method) and gained 1-0 lead. However, the visitors bounced back in style and registered a thumping win. India posted 201/7 with skipper Suryakumar Yadav smashing a record-breaking century. Later, Kuldeep Yadav took a five-wicket haul as India bundled out the Proteas for 95.
India take on South Africa in the 1st T20I at the first ODI at The Wanderers, Johannesburg. After the T20I series ended 1-1, the focus now shifts towards a three-match ODI series. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are all absent while Hardik Pandya is still nursing an injury. Due to all the absentees, KL Rahul will lead the team in the ODI leg of the tour. Rajat Patidar and Sai Sudharsan are expected to be handed their debut caps, with the pair set to open the innings. Shreyas Iyer will bat at no. 3 while captain Rahul has said that he will bat in the middle, most likely at no. 4.
KL Rahul is not chucking the big gloves away in ODIs anytime soon and made it clear that he wouldn't mind standing behind the stumps when the 'Boxing Day' Test against South Africa comes calling in just over a week's time. Leading the ODI team after regular skipper Rohit Sharma took a break from the white ball leg of the South Africa tour, the stylish right-hander also gave enough hints that Rinku Singh is all set to be rewarded with an ODI debut after displaying impressive technique, sound temperament and commendable game awareness in the T20 series. Asked whether he will keep wickets in the ODI series starting on Sunday, Rahul answered in affirmative. "Yes, I will I be keeping wickets and batting in the middle-order and after that I would be happy to keep wickets in Test matches," Rahul told media persons during the pre-series interaction.