While Team India is currently playing a 3-match ODI series against South Africa without Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Virat Kohli, their absence is hardly apparent because the "second-string" Indian side has competed head-to-head with the full-strength South African side.

Shreyas Iyer has been in top form in the 50-over format, having accumulated 458 runs in 10 games this year at a staggering 57.25 apiece. Sanju Samson fought valiantly in the 1st ODI, smashing 86* off just 63 balls almost driving his team home. The hosts eventually lost by 9 runs.

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However, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan’s 161-run stand for the third wicket made sure that the Men in Blue won the 2nd game with 7 wickets and more than 5 overs to spare while chasing 279.

Iyer struck a spectacular century, his second in ODIs, while Kishan perished just 7 runs short of his first century in international cricket. 

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes that with such magnificent knocks, these players will pose a threat to the big players’ position in the side.

“They are doing their chances no harm. After the T20 World Cup, everybody is going to talk about the 2023 World Cup, which is in India. Shreyas Iyer has been magnificent. In his last six ODI innings, he has got four fifties and one hundred.

"We might see him in that big batting line-up. He might squeeze in somewhere. Ishan Kishan again... Anybody who has a good series will be challenging those big boys," Jaffer said in an interaction on ESPNCricinfo.

The 3-match series is leveled at 1-1 and the series-deciding encounter will be played on Tuesday (October 11) in Delhi.

(ESPNcricinfo Inputs)