The Indian team selectors made some changes to the squads for the South Africa series in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches. Unfortunately, fast bowler Mohammed Shami couldn’t recover from his injury in time, and on Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that he won’t be playing in the two-match Test series against South Africa, which begins on December 26.
Shami was initially included in the squad, but his participation depended on getting medical clearance for his fitness. However, the BCCI Medical Team didn’t clear him, so he’s not going to be part of the Test matches, as stated in the official release from BCCI.
These Stars Of Indian Cricket Team Will Miss The ODI Against South Africa
After the ODI World Cup, Mohammed Shami injured his ankle even though he was the top wicket-taker with 24 wickets. In another change to the Indian team, Deepak Chahar had to withdraw due to a family emergency.
Akash Deep, who was already in South Africa with India A, will take his place. The BCCI mentioned that Deepak Chahar informed them about being unavailable for the upcoming ODI series due to a family medical emergency, and Akash Deep was chosen as his replacement by the Men’s Selection Committee.
Shreyas Iyer, the batter, will play only in the first ODI on December 17. After that, he’ll join the Test squad to get ready for the Test series and won’t be part of the second and third ODIs. Instead, he will participate in an inter-squad game as mentioned in the official release.
Why Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Not Playing Against South Africa?
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma won’t be playing in India’s white-ball squads for the South Africa series because they asked for a break, as informed by the BCCI. The cricket board also updated that Mohammed Shami is currently undergoing medical treatment, and his participation in the series depends on his fitness.
This means that Kohli and Rohit decided to take some time off from playing in the one-day and T20 matches. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami, a senior fast bowler, is dealing with some health issues. The BCCI, or the Board of Control for Cricket in India, provided these details to give clarity on the availability of these key players for the upcoming series in South Africa.
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Indian Team for South Africa ODI Series
Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C)(wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep.
Dravid Will Be Not Available as Head Coach
In a significant update about the coaching staff of Team India, head coach Rahul Dravid, along with batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T. Dilip, won’t be with the One Day International (ODI) squad. Instead, they will be joining the Test squad to get ready for the red-ball matches.
This means that the key members of the coaching staff, including Rahul Dravid, will be focusing on guiding and preparing the players for the Test series rather than being with the ODI squad. They will be involved in overseeing the preparations for an inter-squad game and the upcoming Test series. The decision reflects a strategic shift in coaching focus as the teams prepare for different formats of the game.
The coaching staff for the One Day International (ODI) team will be from India A, including batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and fielding coach Ajay Ratra. They will be assisting the ODI squad.
A Practice Match Before Boxing Day Test
To prepare for the Boxing Day Test, the Indian team is scheduled to play an inter-squad match in Pretoria from December 20-22. Key players like Captain Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and R Ashwin, have already headed to South Africa and are expected to participate in this practice game.
This game will serve as a warm-up and help the players get ready for the Test series. The coaching and playing staff are making strategic decisions to ensure the team is well-prepared for the upcoming matches in South Africa.
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