IND vs SA ODI Squad: 3 Deserving Indian Players Who Missed Out On A Spot

IND vs SA ODI Squad: 3 Deserving Indian Players Who Missed Out On A Spot. Indian selectors announced team India’s 18-member ODI squad on Friday for the three-match series against South Africa.

Rohit Sharma, who was named India’s new white-ball captain, wasn’t included in the ODI series as he hasn’t regained complete fitness from the hamstring injury he suffered during a training session in Mumbai.

KL Rahul, who was named Rohit’s deputy during the T20I series against New Zealand, will lead the team in the ODI series against the Proteas with ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah was appointed his deputy.

Virat Kohli, who was in the spotlight after he was forced to step aside from the ODI captaincy, was also included in the side. Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan returned back to the squad after being dropped from the T20 World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who all were part of India’s T20 World Cup campaign, have retained their positions in the 50-over format.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, speedster Deepak Chahar were part of the three-match T20I series against New Zealand and have been included in the squad.

Tamil Nadu off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who last played an ODI game for India in 2017, is all set to return to the format. Ashwin and his state teammate Washington Sundar are the two options available for the off-spinner role.

Mohammed Siraj, who has been tasting success in Test cricket, was also given a run to take a shot in the ODI set-up.

Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was also named in the 18-member squad after his astounding campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22.

Ruturaj slammed four centuries from five innings to accumulate 603 runs at a staggering average of 150.75. His highest score of 168 came against Chandigarh at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium C in Rajkot.

Even though the Indian squad looks like a well-balanced squad with viable options in each slot, yet some players who also deserved to take the plane were left out.

Let us look at three Indian players that missed from the ODI squad against South Africa.

IND vs SA ODI Squad: 3 Deserving Indian Players Who Missed Out On A Spot

3) Devdutt Padikkal

The 21-year-old talented youngster started 2021 scoring 737 runs for Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21.

Padikkal carried his brilliant form in IPL 2021, scoring 411 runs from 14 innings. He also made his international debut for India in T20Is against Sri Lanka in July 2021.

The Karnataka batter has accumulated 1391 runs from 22 List A games at an average of 77.27.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Watch – Devdutt Padikkal Takes A Stunning Catch At Deep Extra Cover To Dismiss Chris Morris Off Harshal Patel

2) Rishi Dhawan

Dhawan had a great end to the year 2021 as he led his state team Himachal Pradesh to the Vijay Hazare Trophy with his classic all-round display.

The 31-year-old all-rounder scored 458 runs from eight innings and also snapped 16 wickets in Himachal Pradesh’s title triumph.

Dhawan has played just three ODI matches during India’s tour of Australia in 2016 and considering his dazzling form, he deserves more games in the Blue colours.

Also Read: Rishi Dhawan Ties Knot with Longtime Girlfriend Deepali Chauhan

1)Prithvi Shaw

The Mumbai batter scripted a record of scoring 827 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21, becoming the first player to breach the 800-run mark.

He also became the first player in the history of List A cricket to score three 150-plus scores in a single tournament/series.

Shaw amassed 479 runs for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 at the strike rate of 159.13 that pleased the franchise to retain him for IPL 2022.

Shaw was awarded as the player of the game in the first ODI against Sri Lanka for his blistering knock of 24-ball 43.

He didn’t play enough matches in the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai as he was part of India A team that toured South Africa for three unofficial Tests.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, And Anrich Nortje Retained By Delhi Capitals (DC) For IPL 2022