IND vs SA: The BCCI selection committee picked three squads for the upcoming all-format tour of South Africa, and announced it on Thursday.
The IND vs SA tour comprises 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Tests from December 10 to January 7.
Here are the 5 takeaways from the Indian squads announced for the IND vs SA tour:
KL Rahul back in the Test side as a wicket-keeper; definitely the end of road for Pujara and Rahane
The talking point from the Test squad was that KL Rahul has been picked as keeper-batsman, along with Ishan Kishan, while KS Bharat is dropped. It indicates that India are likely to pick Rahul in the Test series over Kishan, because of Rahul’s prior experience in South Africa- he hit a century on the 2021/22 tour in SA – and Kishan’s lack of experience in those conditions.
This certainly should be the end of road for Rahane, who was in the West Indies series, and for Pujara, who latst played in the WTC Final. With Jaiswal, Gill, and Rahul likely to play in the XI, India have moved on from Pujara and Rahane.
Sanju Samson back in ODI squad; no more Suryakumar Yadav
After being omitted from the Asia Cup and World Cup squads, Sanju Samson is back in the ODI squad for the South Africa series. Suryakumar Yadav, who disappointed in the World Cup final, is dropped. Samson will need to grab his opportunity in South Africa. He is not in the T20I squad.
Yuzvendra Chahal is back in ODI squad
Yuzvendra Chahal has interestingly been picked over Ravi Bishnoi in the IND vs SA ODI squad, but Bishnoi is selected ahead of Chahal in the T20I squad. With the 2027 ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa, this series gives Chahal a good chance to prove to the selectors his worth in the ODI format.
Selectors still not certain whether Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli will play in T20 World Cup 2024
The BCCI said that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had asked for rest from the white-ball matches in IND vs SA. This has now deferred the decision-making regarding the T20 World Cup 2024 for a few more months. India have only 3 T20Is at home against Afghanistan before the IPL. It is likely that the form of Rohit and Kohli in the IPL would influence their selection in the T20 World Cup.
No KL Rahul in T20I squad; maybe selectors not happy with his tempo in T20
While KL Rahul has earned the faith of the selectors to play as a keeper-batsman in the Test team, and captain the ODI side with Hardik and Rohit’s absence, the selectors have also indicated to Rahul, by not selecting him in the T20I squad, that he need to change his tempo in T20 cricket to be selected in India’s T20I team.
Rahul has received criticism for his conservative starts in the IPL. If he throws the conservative approach away and embraces more risk and aggressiveness in the IPL, he could be picked in the T20 World Cup squad.
