SA vs IND: KL Rahul hints India Playing 11 for 1st ODI. Check Details

SA vs IND 1st ODI: In a big breaking news, India’s stand-in captain KL Rahul has given a massive update about the playing 11 for the upcoming first ODI match against South Africa scheduled to start on 19 January, 2022 (Wednesday) at the Boland Park in Paarl. India will be playing three ODI games in South Africa on 19, 21 and 23 January, 2022 respectively. The opening two matches will be played in Paarl while the third and final ODI is scheduled to take place in Cape Town.

SA vs IND: KL Rahul hints India Playing 11 for 1st ODI

During the virtual pre-match press conference, India’s captain KL Rahul confirmed that he will open the batting in the ODI series against South Africa. In the last couple of years, the right-hander has batted in the middle-order in 50-overs cricket, however, in the absence of senior opener Rohit Sharma who is out with injury, Rahul stated that he will move up the order. The stand-in captain also hinted that all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer is likely to make his ODI debut on Wednesday.

“Yes, in the last 14-15 months, I have batted at number four-five, at different positions and you know that is what the team needed from me. Now, with Rohit not being here, I would bat at the top of the order,” said KL Rahul during a virtual press conference before the first ODI against the Proteas.

“Yes, Venkatesh Iyer has been very exciting since he has played for KKR and done really well there and he joined us for the T20I series against New Zealand. He did really well there, fast-bowling all-rounders are always an asset. We are always looking for fast-bowling all-rounders. They balance the team out really well. It is a great opportunity for him to do well in South Africa,” he added.

Related: Likely South Africa Playing 11

India ODI Squad

KL Rahul (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Y Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, J Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini.

Related: 3 Player Battles to Watch out for India vs South Africa 1st ODI

South Africa vs India

After KL Rahul’s press conference, it has now been confirmed that he alongside Shikhar Dhawan will be India’s two openers for the 1st ODI against South Africa and thus, youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad will have to wait for his opportunity. On the other hand, it is still not clear whether both Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer will find a place in the middle-order or the visitors will play an all-rounder in the form of Venkatesh Iyer who can also be the sixth bowling option.

Related: SA vs IND Stats Guide for ODI Series

IND Playing 11 (likely)
Shikhar Dhawan
KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav/Shreyas Iyer
Rishabh Pant
Venkatesh Iyer
Shardul Thakur
Ravichandran Ashwin
Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Deepak Chahar
Jasprit Bumrah
Yuzvendra Chahal