India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs Highlights: KL Rahul confirmed as ODI captain; Bumrah rested

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Of course, KL had led India before – in 12 matches between 2022 and 2023. He has an 8-4 record in those 12 matches, out of which six were played against the Proteas.

Against South Africa, it's a pretty record of 2 wins and 4 losses, as he led the team to a 3-0 series whitewash loss in South Africa in January 2022, but had a much better go of it when he led the team back to the Rainbow Nation, as he oversaw a 2-1 series victory.

He also has led the team to two victories over Australia in September 2023, and a couple of wins over Zimbabwe and Bangladesh as well.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli haven't played international cricket on home turf since February of this year. Almost 10 months. That's a long time to go without fans getting to watch their heroes in their nation's colours. Sure, we had the emotional IPL victory for Kohli – but the spectacular feat of having the entire country behind them, while they play on home soil… those moments are only going to grow rarer.

As important as the cricket itself is bound to be, fans should take a moment or two to appreciate the twilight of a great era for Indian cricket.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Harshit Rana is a raw work in progress, but the Aussie reaction to him showed that there is certainly something there. It is so difficult to find young fast bowlers who are finished products, and Harshit is the one that the Indian team management has currently chosen to back. A year into his international career, he will need to start putting up performances to back his selection, and make good use of the long rope he has been offered.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: At this moment, India are slightly spoilt for choice in terms of their number 4 suddenly.

With Rohit Sharma expected to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli at number 3, then KL Rahul at 5 and Nitish Kumar Reddy or Ravindra Jadeja at 6 and 7, and Washington Sundar presumably bringing up the end of the batting at 8, it will be a four-way dogfight for that role.

Jurel is likely present as a backup at the moment, while Pant is likely more suited to be a number 5 in this format.Ruturaj Gaikwad is more of an opener but has the chops to play middle order as he does for Maharashtra in First Class. Tilak Varma was given the go-ahead to lead India A: will he be the player to come in for Shreyas, with both playing to a similar tempo in their own respective ways?

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Surprising to see Axar Patel not in the squad after the importance he has held in the white ball teams in recent years. Of course, there is no reason to jump to conclusions, with it being a possibility this is a move made for his personal reasons or external factors. But it will certainly be interesting to hear the rationale or the reason.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: A look at what the squad looks like in more depth.

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad

Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel

All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: As was the case in Australia, it is Nitish Kumar Reddy who will be Hardik Pandya's deputy in the squad. Will likely be asked to be a third seam option at some of the venues, and a big chance for him.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Also interesting to see that Mohammed Siraj is not in the squad, which means Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana are the only frontline seamers.

Dhruv Jurel is present as a third wicketkeeping option.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Let's begin breaking down this team, then. So to fill the numbers in the middle order, Rishabh Pant, Tilak Varma, and Ruturaj Gaikwad do come in.

Bumrah stays rested, but the player who has to miss out from the squad for the extra batting seems to be Axar Patel. Whether this is a tactical drop or Axar has earned a break remains unknown – but marks a shift from his role.

Ravindra Jadeja does come back in, as many expected.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Here is the full team India roster.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates:

India’s ODI squad: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: There's the news, KL Rahul to lead the ODI side!

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Similarly, here's the list for the T20Is:

1st T20I — 9 Dec, Cuttack

2nd T20I — 11 Dec, Mullanpur

3rd T20I — 14 Dec, Dharamsala

4th T20I — 17 Dec, Lucknow

5th T20I — 19 Dec, Ahmedabad

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: A quick look at the schedule for the India vs South Africa ODIs:

1st ODI – 30 November, Ranchi

2nd ODI – 3 December, Vizag

3rd ODI – 6 December, Visakhapatnam

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Still awaiting updates, so let us return to asking the pertinent questions ahead of the announcement. The BCCI selectors prefer keeping the leadership within a select group, which is why they might not want to bring in someone entirely out of the blue. While Pant isn't a locked-in option for the ODIs, he is vice-captain in Tests, and was in the squad for the Champions Trophy. With him filling multiple roles in the team, the captaincy might not be out of the question.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: So stumps it is in Guwahati. The BCCI presser and announcement is expected soon, as the Test match day 2 winds down.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Almost stumps in Guwahati now as the light begins to fade. Just a matter of time before we can bring you the big important news.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: In Test cricket, the Indian coach is definitely feeling the heat. He's trying to find his feet in that format – but the pace and tactics behind the limited overs game is something he innately understands. Nevertheless, he will know there is room to improve, and will need to sharpen up just a touch compared to the up-and-down tour of Australia.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Ravindra Jadeja didn't travel to Australia with Ajit Agarkar saying at the time that those many spinners wouldn't be needed on those surfaces. However, with India in need of extra batting, the experienced all-rounder might just find his way back into the ODI setup. A chance for him to keep doing his thing, especially if he can show his strong batting form.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Just an hour away from stumps in Guwahati. Following the end of play, we should have the squad announcements. India need some momentum late in the day after Proteas have dominated.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: After a brief period as India's vice-captain in T20Is, Axar Patel was replaced by Shubman Gill. But in Gill's absence, he will get the chance to be Suryakumar Yadav's deputy again, one expects.

He might also get the added responsibility in ODIs, behind either Rohit or KL. KL Rahul does play under Axar in the IPL, so this will make for an interesting conversation in the Delhi Capitals front office, no doubt.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Similarly, no big switches in the spin bowling department. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy will be at hand, as well as the all-rounders in Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. They should all figure across both teams.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: The bowling resources are fairly set, as far as India are concerned. They have a full pace-bowlign battery, with Bumrah being aided by Siraj, Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh. Important roles also for Nitish and Shuvam Dube.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Aside from Tilak Varma, two other lefties might have aspirations of playing in that number 4 role. Ishan Kishan has an ODI double century, albeit opening the batting, but hasn't stormed the castle to be picked. Pant, meanwhile, hasn't played ODI cricket since 2024 himself, but is always in the conversation given his talent. He's well-suited to the number four position, and would also free up potential captain KL Rahul from balancing wicketkeeping AND captaincy.

India squad announcement for South Africa ODIs, T20s LIVE Updates: Tilak Varma captained the India A team and batted at number 4, which means he will certainly be in consideration for that role. He is already a set player in the T20s, and seems to be a young player with the right kind of tempo for ODI cricket. He also is an extra left-handed option. Much to consider for Gambhir and co.