The three-match ODI series is all set to get underway on February 6.
On the eve of the opening ODI, India skipper Rohit Sharma addressed a press conference and said that playing spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav together is certainly on his mind.
Team India haven't fielded Kuldeep and Chahal regularly together since the 2019 World Cup. The two wrist-spinners have played 36 ODIs together, claiming 125 wickets between them.
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"Kuldeep and Chahal have been great performers for us in the past and they have created an impact in those years whenever they have played together, in the middle they were left out because of the combination we wanted to get. It is certainly on my mind to get them back together, Kuldeep especially," said Rohit during a virtual press conference, as quoted by ANI.
"We want to get Kuldeep in slowly, we do not want him to be rushed. It is important to give him some time to come into his own groove, we do not want to put him in a situation where we are asking too much from him also. I think for us, it is important that we handle the situation carefully. Both these players are important. Chahal played in South Africa and Kuldeep has just gotten back into the squad. Kuldeep needs to play a lot of games to get his rhythm back and we understand that," he added.
Rohit also confirmed that Ishan Kishan will open alongside him in the first ODI.
"With COVID it is uncertain with what is going to happen. At the moment, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, and Shikhar Dhawan are in isolation. They are doing well. In the first ODI, Ishan Kishan would open with me, he is the only option as Mayank was added to the squad, he is in isolation as he came a bit late into the squad. He has not finished his quarantine so Ishan will open the innings unless there is an injury," he said.
The series will mark Rohit Sharma’s first assignment as full-time ODI captain. He missed out on the recently held South Africa tour due to a hamstring injury.
"There is not a lot that we need to change, we just need to adapt to different situations of the game. We have played good ODI cricket over the course of the past few years, one series loss is not the reason for us to panic. South Africa series was a great learning curve for us in terms of we did not do collectively as a team," said Rohit.
"It is always important that everyone comes together. Going forward, the role clarity of certain individuals is important in the squad. If we can talk to the individuals about it, then we can get what we want at a different points from different individuals," he added.
India ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mayank Agarwal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (available for 2nd ODI), Rishabh Pant, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan.
(With ANI inputs)