BCCI names India’s squad for ODI series against South Africa; KL Rahul to lead

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a fresh-looking 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, beginning November 30. With regular captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer sidelined due to injuries, senior wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has been entrusted with leadership duties. The series marks an important phase in India’s preparation cycle as the team continues to test its depth ahead of a packed 2026 calendar.

KL Rahul, who remains India’s preferred wicketkeeper in ODIs, returns to the leadership role at a time when the team has been hit by multiple injury concerns. Gill is currently undergoing medical evaluation in Mumbai after sustaining a neck injury during the opening Test against South Africa. The incident forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the Test series, with Rishabh Pant stepping in as stand-in captain. Shreyas Iyer, too, has not recovered in time, prompting the selectors to explore alternate combinations.

Despite Pant’s inclusion, the national selectors have opted to retain Dhruv Jurel in the squad. The young wicketkeeper impressed with his composure on the Australia tour and continues to remain in the mix as part of India’s long-term plans.

The ODI setup sees the return of several key players, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Jadeja’s comeback means Axar Patel misses out after a lukewarm performance in Australia. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj is being rested with the selectors prioritising workload management ahead of back-to-back Test commitments.

Tilak Varma and Gaikwad, both highly rated in India’s white-ball structure, are expected to play crucial roles in the middle order. Their inclusion signals a continued push to provide opportunities to emerging talents, especially with Hardik Pandya still unavailable. Consequently, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy holds his spot after positive displays in recent outings.

India’s batting department carries a blend of experience and youth. Veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will provide the much-needed stability at the top, while Yashasvi Jaiswal could be in line to add to his solitary ODI appearance.

However, India’s pace attack appears relatively thin for this tour. With Siraj and Bumrah resting after the Test series, the selectors have named only three specialist fast bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. This means the spin trio of Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar will shoulder a significant share of the bowling workload.

The ODI leg begins in Ranchi on November 30 before moving to Raipur on December 3. The final match will be played in Visakhapatnam on December 6. After the 50-over series, both teams will gear up for a five-match T20I contest.

India’s squad for South Africa ODIs: KL Rahul (c/wk), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel