India ODI squad SA: No place for Shahrukh Khan, Rishi Dhawan: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday (December 31) announced the much-awaited India ODI squad for the South Africa series and two names that couldn’t make it to the 18-man squad despite impressive outing in Vijay Hazare Trophy are Shahrukh Khan and Rishi Dhawan. Follow InsideSport.in for more updates
While the 31-year-old Rishi Dhawan led his side Himachal Pradesh to its maiden title in the Indian domestic tournament, Shahrukh Khan was a standout performer for Tamil Nadu and a frontrunner in knocking at the doors of national selectors.
India ODI squad SA: Despite impressive Vijay Hazare show, no place for Shahrukh Khan, Rishi Dhawan
Leading his side Himachal Pradesh, Rishi Dhawan became the first player in Vijay Hazare Trophy history to finish among the top five run-getters and the top five wicket-takers in the same season.
Averaging 76.33 with the bat, Rishi Dhawan slammed 458 runs in 8 innings, including five fifties for Himachal Pradesh. With the ball, he picked 17 wickets at an economy of 6.00. Dhawan finished as the second-highest run-getter and also the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Also, it was Rishi Dhawan’s all-round show in the final (3/62 & 42 unbeaten) that helped Himachal Pradesh beat Tamil Nadu in the final and script history.
India ODI squad SA: Despite impressive Vijay Hazare show, no place for Shahrukh Khan, Rishi Dhawan
Coming to Shahrukh Khan, the swashbuckling finisher has been one of the highlights of the recently concluded Vijay Hazare edition. The 26-year-old has been dominating the domestic circuit with his power-hitting abilities.
Shahrukh Khan had the fourth-highest strike rate (186.02) in 2021-22 VHT and rescued his side from many tricky situations, with 79* off 39 against KAR in QFs one of them.
While Rishi Dhawan would have been a perfect second all-rounder pick, Shahrukh Khan could be have been tried in the lower middle order for the finishing role.
But the selection committee has opted to go with so many options at the top of the batting order, especially the opening slot. With KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad & Ishan Kishan – the 18-man squad has four contenders for the opening slot.
India ODI Squad for South Africa: KL Rahul (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Y Chahal, R Ashwin, W Sundar, J Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Mohd. Siraj.
India ODI squad SA: Despite impressive Vijay Hazare show, no place for Shahrukh Khan, Rishi Dhawan
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