With the next 50-over World Cup only in 2027 and the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for February 2025, the focus is more on the T20 World Cup less than six months away. (Screengrab BCCI/AP)
India vs South Africa: Rinku Singh to debut in the ODI series that will be an audition for T20 world cup spots
One-Day Internationals are back to the third spot in the priority lists of cricket boards, team managements and players after curtains came down on the 50-over World Cup. The Indian squad for the three ODIs in South Africa features just three members of the team that finished second-best to Australia in Ahmedabad less than a month ago. What’s more, even the coaching staff is second-choice, with those assigned to the India A squad there to assist the ODI squad.
With the next 50-over World Cup only in 2027 and the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for February 2025, the focus is more on the T20 World Cup less than six months away. The ODI series could also be just part of the audition process for that tournament. And with World Test Championship points on the line in every game, the 50-over format almost becomes an afterthought for the moment.
The likes of Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh have been part of India’s T20 squads for some time now, in the absence of more established names, and any opportunity to push their case in another format will be welcome. Rajat Patidar and B Sai Sudharsan have been rewarded for good domestic performances while Sanju Samson will hope he gets another chance or two after being found surplus to requirements in first-choice squads in all formats. The experimental aspect of the series was emphasised further with the announcement that Shreyas Iyer will leave the ODI squad after Sunday’s first match in Johannesburg to prepare for the two-Test series that follows. (READ MORE)
