SA v IND 2021-22: Kohli’s ODI captaincy, Ishant’s future, backup no.3 in focus as BCCI set to pick squad for SA- Report

India will play 3 ODIs and 3 Tests in South Africa.

The BCCI national selectors will meet up to pick the jumbo Indian squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa which will consist of three ODIs and three Test matches, as the trio of Chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma, Abey Kuruvilla and Sunil Joshi were in Mumbai.

The trio will have quite a few issues on their agenda including the future of Virat Kohli as ODI captain, Ishant Sharma’s spot in the India Test XI, and discussion on potential replacements at no.3 spot, along with deciding the future of India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Sharma, Joshi, and Kuruvilla will sit alongside president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah to take a few decisions which might have a far-reaching impact in the larger context of Indian cricket.

India will play three ODIs in South Africa and the biggest question now is whether the country needs two white ball captains which can potentially lead to a clash of ideas. Rohit Sharma took over as official T20I captain in the recent series against New Zealand which India won 2-1.

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There are loud voices in BCCI corridors to give ODI captaincy to Rohit as well to let him have time to prepare for the 2023 ICC World Cup which will be played in India itself.

“As of now, it looks difficult that Virat would be able to keep his ODI captaincy but since ODI isn’t important this year with very few matches here and there, one can think of delaying the decision.

But the counterargument is that why do you want to have separate ideas for two formats and if majority of people in charge of making decisions feel that Rohit is the man going forward and will get time to prepare a team for the 2023 event,” a senior BCCI source told PTI.

Furthermore, it was reported that Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are expected to retain their spots in the India Test squad, but Rohit Sharma will most likely be named the Test vice-captain, as selectors are not sure of Rahane being the deputy with his sketchy batting form.

“Obviously, he (Rahane) is going to South Africa but had he not got injured, there was a high chance of him getting dropped from the eleven. So if he is not a sure-shot starter, how can he remain the deputy. If Rahane is removed from vice-captaincy, Rohit is the obvious choice. He was in fact vice-captain in the Australia Test series in last two games,” the official said.

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Selectors are also looking for a potential backup at the no.3 spot with Abhimanyu Easwaran and Priyank Panchal in contention.

A big choice for the selectors to make is about the future of pacer Ishant Sharma, who has seemingly gone off the boil since the tour of England and many people believe that the veteran of 105 Tests (311 wickets) should now be given a break.

With Mohammed Siraj showing great heart in England and against New Zealand in Mumbai Test, many feel it is not impossible to keep him out of the XI, especially when Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah come back.

(PTI inputs)