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.
On the eve of the series, skipper KL Rahul didn’t hide where the priorities lay.
“I think it’s too early to look at the bigger picture as far as ODI cricket is concerned. The focus is on the T20 World Cup, which is round the corner, and there isn’t a lot of cricket left in terms of the Indian team, so focus has shifted a little bit,” he conceded, while hinting that Rinku will indeed make his ODI debut at the Wanderers.
The whole trial exercise would be fruitful if India can unearth one or more batsmen who bowl, or bowlers who can be relied upon to get valuable runs down the order. Regardless of format and the choice of players in the XI, this is one area where India regularly come up short, especially since Hardik Pandya got injured. This weakness returns to haunt the team in big games, as it makes the middle order overly cautious after the fall of early wickets, and also doesn’t provide the captain options if one of the main bowlers has an off day.
Rahul’s leadership credentials will be on trial as well, after not impressing as a Test captain in the past and with a mixed leadership record in the IPL.
“It does feel a bit strange,” Rahul said about the new-look ODI squad in the absence of the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. “But that’s how the game is going. Schedule is such that not every player can be available for every format.”
Extended T20 game?
With an ODI series being used as an audition for spots in a T20 World Cup, one can expect the pace and style of batting to mirror the shorter format as well. As things stand, depending on whether Rohit, Kohli and Rahul remain in India’s T20I plans, only Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku could be considered somewhat of certainties for the major ICC event.
As far as the bowling goes, leggie Yuzvendra Chahal would be keen to remind what he is capable of, having slipped down the pecking order of late. With Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar in the squad, there are a lot of contenders and not a lot of time if the Haryana tweaker is to throw his hat in the ring for future ICC events.
As far as the hosts are concerned, they will be missing their first-choice pace attack as well. Kagiso Rabada has been rested, but there are doubts about his fitness as well. Anrich Nortje seems to be perennially injured, and Gerard Coetzee and Marco Jansen have been kept in cotton wool ahead of the Test series. Lungi Ngidi isn’t available either.
Their batting line-up retains a familiar look from the one that took them to the World Cup semi-finals, with the exception of the opening pairing of the now-retired Quinton de Kock and captain Temba Bavuma. The latter carries a lot of symbolic significance for a country with a divisive past, but with all due respect, Reeza Hendricks for Bavuma doesn’t weaken the side too much. He is set to open with Tony de Zorzi, who impressed in domestic cricket for Western Province.
Aiden Markram is an impressive batsman and captain, and has already led the side in the T20 series. He is also a rare breed in South African cricket, having led the national side to a World Cup victory, albeit at the under-19 level, but doesn’t think that an Indian team missing some of its bigger stars will be an easy opposition.
“They can almost field three different sides and really compete with the best in the world,” the 29-year-old felt.
Rassie van der Dussen has pedigree in the 50-over format, while Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller bring destructive power. In Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, the spin department looks well stocked – unusual for a South African side – but the pace attack will be in the hands of relative rookies such as Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder.
While the Indian approach could be guessed, with some T20 players featuring in the XI, South Africa showed during the 50-over World Cup in India that they try to keep the foot on the accelerator throughout their innings. The key personnel who took them close to, and beyond, 400 on several occasions are all present. Familiar conditions – though the Wanderers pitch for the third T20I on Thursday turned out to be unusually spin-friendly – may encourage them to continue in that vein. on
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