Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer fitness clouds ODI plans

The India squad for the ODI series against South Africa will be picked on Sunday (November 23), with attention on Shubman Gill's fitness, the choice of stand-in captain, and the role of Ravindra Jadeja. Gill, the designated skipper, is recovering from a neck injury and is unlikely to feature in the three-match contest starting November 30. He is currently in Mumbai for an assessment.

With Shreyas Iyer—the designated vice-captain—also ruled out following a recent injury and surgery, the selectors are forced to look for a new leader. KL Rahul, who captained India 12 times in ODIs between 2022-23, is a strong candidate. Rishabh Pant is another option, though he hasn't played an ODI in over a year and was an unused member of India's Champions Trophy squad earlier this year.

Iyer is expected to be out for more than a month, and his availability for the white-ball series against New Zealand in January is also in doubt.

Rahul and Pant are both in contention, with Rahul having a slight edge. Sources close to the opener say he has not yet received any indication from the BCCI or selection committee. Pant's selection could be tricky as Rahul is considered the first-choice wicketkeeper for ODIs; Pant would have to play purely as a batter.

A decision also needs to be made on Ravindra Jadeja, whose all-round utility is significant. He was left out of the three ODIs in Australia but was reassured he remains in the ODI plans. Whether he will be recalled—and possibly given an elevated role—is uncertain.

Other considerations include whether to rest Jasprit Bumrah and whether to retain Nitish Kumar Reddy. Hardik Pandya is undergoing rehab for a quadriceps injury that ruled him out of the Asia Cup final in September and is unlikely to feature in the ODIs, which could mean Nitish continues in the squad. Pandya will play for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).

The ODI squad will see the return of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna, among others. The selection meeting is expected after the day's play in the ongoing Test in Guwahati. The announcement timing is up to the BCCI. The three ODIs are scheduled in Ranchi (November 30), Raipur (December 3), and Visakhapatnam (December 6).