SA vs IND 2018: Uncapped Khaya Zondo, Lungi Ngidi Included in South Africa's Squad for First Three ODIs
South Africa have included the uncapped duo of Khaya Zondo and Lungi Ngidi in their 15-man squad for the first three One-Day Internationals of the upcoming five-match series against India. Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has also been recalled to the side.
It is the second time Zondo has been called up by the national team, having previously toured with the Proteas to India three years ago, when AB de Villiers led the team to a memorable 3-2 ODI series win. However, the Dolphins skipper had not played a single game.
Zondo has received his second call-up for his solid performance in the domestic One-Day Cup this season. The right-handed batsman had played all eight matches for the Dolphins, scoring 217 runs at an average of 36.16 thus far.
On the other hand, Ngidi has been added to the squad on the back of his sensational performance on his Test debut. The 21-year old, who had played three T20Is so far, had rocked India in Centurion by taking six for 39 to fire the Proteas to a comprehensive 135-run win and bag the Man of the Match award.
Shamsi has also been rewarded for his fine show in the domestic arena this season. The chinaman spinner, whose last ODI appearance came in February 2017 against New Zealand, has taken an impressive 26 wickets in just nine games at a stunning average of 14.84.
Farhaan Behardien, meanwhile, has been dropped from the side. The 34-year old, who has played 58 ODIs so far, has been in sensational form in the domestic season but was surprisingly not included in the squad.
The right-handed batsman averaged an unbelievable 234 in the RamSlam T20 Challenge to spearhead the Titans to the title and has scored 364 runs, which includes four half-centuries, at an average of 52.00 and strike-rate of 92.85 in the ongoing One-Day Cup.
Dane Paterson has also been dropped despite being in good form in domestic tournaments. However, the selectors have pinned their hopes on Ngidi and the fit-again Chris Morris. Temba Bavuma has also missed out owing to a broken finger. Bavuma injured his finger while playing for the Cobras in the One-Day Cup and was forced to miss the ongoing last Test against India at the Wanderers.
The ODI series will start on February 1 in Durban. A three-match T20I series will follow the series.
South Africa squad for first three ODIs:
Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khaya Zondo
India squad:
Virat Kohli (Capt.), Rohit Sharma (vice-capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, M.S. Dhoni (wk), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur.
