The IND vs SA Test series is in progress for now, which will be followed by the ODIs and T20Is as well, starting November 30. But then the squad for the white-ball formats remains to be picked. Now, as per a report in the Times of India, both the teams would be picked on the second day of the Guwahati Test on Sunday.
No Shubman Gill in ODIs & T20Is?
The report further says, that chief selector Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh and Devajit Saikia would meet in Guwahati, to discuss the same. Meanwhile, what could make their task difficult is, some of the senior players might not be available for selection — Hardik Pandya might still not be fit, along with Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.
Pandya has been out since the Asia Cup, Iyer got injured in Australia, while Gill suffered a neck injury in Kolkata, which was a huge blow for the Indian team.
No Shubman Gill in ODIs
As far as Shubman Gill is concerned, he is ruled out for sure, from the SA series. Another report in TOI suggests, that the ODI skipper has been advised more rest by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, but will be fit in time for the T20Is. “Unfortunately Gill will not be available for selection for the three ODIs vs South Africa. He has been advised more rest by the specialists and continues to be monitored by the BCCI medical team,” said a BCCI official.
Let’s talk about the potential squads. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would definitely be around for the ODIs. In the absence of Shubman, KL Rahul emerges as the potential skipper, or Rohit might just return as skipper for this one series. Rishabh Pant might come in as the second keeper, with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj as the pacers. Keeping in mind Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management, he might not be in the ODI team.
As for the T20I team, it could largely remain the same from the previous AUS series. Suryakumar Yadav would of course lead, with Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma as the two keepers. If Shubman Gill is still not fit, that could pave the way for someone like a Yashasvi Jaiswal; but again his place in the XI might not be guaranteed. Sanju could just be elevated to the opening role again.
