After the disappointment of the Test series loss, the Indian team will now move their focus onto the three-match ODI series which will begin on January 19 with the first match to be played at the Boland Park in Paarl.
The second match will also be played at the same venue on January 21, while the third and final ODI will be played at the Newlands in Cape Town on January 23.
This series will be the first time KL Rahul will captain India in ODIs after Rohit Sharma failed to recover in time from his hamstring injury and missed the South Africa tour as a whole. Jasprit Bumrah has been named the vice-captain of the side, with many senior and new faces being included in the squad.
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Hence, TEAM COC presents to you the Predicted Team India Playing XI for the first ODI vs South Africa.
The Indian team will look to utilize and experiment with as many players as they can in this series given they the road to the 2023 ICC World Cup begins for them now. India has the option of opening with KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
However, they might fancy asking Virat Kohli to open the innings to fit in either Suryakumar Yadav or Shreyas Iyer into the mix, with Rahul playing in the middle order. This might mean either Suryakumar or Shreyas Iyer playing at no.4 or 5.
Shikhar Dhawan is expected to be given a go right from the first match with Rishabh Pant taking gloves. Venkatesh Iyer is expected to take up the role of finisher and all-rounder at the no.6 spot with either Deepak Chahar or Shardul Thakur taking up the third pacer role in the XI.
R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal will be expected to do an encore of the 2018 spinners’ performance in the ODIs when Chahal and Kuldeep spun webs around the South African batting lineup.
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From the next two pace bowler slots, one will go to vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah and for the other, there will be a competition between the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the energy of Mohammed Siraj, provided he has recovered from his hamstring injury.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for the first ODI:
Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul (C), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yuzvendra Chahal
