Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is in line to be picked for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, Cricbuzz reported on Saturday (December 25).
Once a regular member of the ODI set-up, Ashwin has been out of the 50-over team since 2017. After a long wait of 4 years, the off-spinner was recently recalled into the T20I side and his success in the shortest format is likely to see him being rewarded with a place in the ODI team.
According to the report, white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid are impressed with the way Ashwin has bowled in the recently held T20 World Cup 2021 followed by the home T20Is against New Zealand.
The Chetan Sharma-led selection committee will meet in the next 24 hours to pick the ODI squad and, in all probability, Ashwin will be named in it. His last ODI appearance was against the West Indies in June 2017.
Meanwhile, the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer will reportedly pick themselves in the Indian ODI squad thanks to their brilliant exploits in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021.
As per the report, Ravindra Jadeja still has fitness issues and might miss out on selection while Akshar Patel has completely recovered. Wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal may be back in the squad as well.
“Cricbuzz understands Venkatesh Iyer, who has been making waves since his breakout performance in the UAE leg of the IPL in September-October, will get the selectors nod as a probable backup for Hardik Pandya, who has been troubled by injuries of late,” the report stated.
“With four centuries in five games of the Vijay Hazare tournament, Maharashtra and Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad will inevitably select himself. But the selectors will have to wrack their brains over another opener, Shikhar Dhawan. Last time India played an ODI series - in Sri Lanka in July - the southpaw was the skipper but has since been facing stiff competition from the likes of Devdutt Paddikal and Prithvi Shaw who have been doing well,” it added.
The three-match ODI series between India and South Africa is due to be played from January 19 to January 23.
(With Cricbuzz inputs)
