India are playing the three-match T20I series against South Africa which will be followed by as many ODI matches which is slated to start from October 6.
While Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the India squad for the ODI series, South Africa have already released their list of players for the three-match battle.
The selectors are set to name the squad on Thursday (September 29) according to a report in InsideSport. Sans Rohit Sharma, the veteran batter Shikhar Dhawan is likely to lead Team India with Sanju Samson alongside in deputy role. The legendary India cricketer VVS Laxman will be in charge of the squad.
"Rohit, Virat and all T20 World Cup-bound players will be rested from the ODI series. Shikhar will lead the side. The squad will be announced after the 3rd One-day between India-A vs New Zealand-A" a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport.
Dhawan had led India to a 3-0 whitewash of West Indies in July this year and had also captained the side in Sri Lanka last year, when the first team players were engaged in a Test series in England. He will have Sanju for his support. The 27-year-old, who was in contention to find a place in the T20 World Cup squad, recently led the India A side against New Zealand A in a three-match white-ball series in Chennai.
Various media outlets, citing different sources, have reported that India's T20 World Cup-bound team will travel to Australia immediately following the conclusion of T20I matches against the Proteas, and thus no player participating in the ongoing T20I series can play in ODIs.
Meanwhile, right ahead of the ODI series between India and South Africa, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly gave a huge update on Samson's return to India fold.
Speaking ahead of the first India vs South Africa T20I, in a meeting with the reporters, Ganguly said, "He (Samson) is playing well. He is there, and he played for India. He just missed the World Cup. I’m sure he will be in the thick of things. I think he is playing the One-Days against South Africa also. He is around. He does well for his franchise in the IPL (Rajasthan Royals). He is the captain. He has done very well for himself."
Ganguly also added that Samson is from Trivandrum, and there’s a lot of talent in Kerala. It would be great to have the local boy playing against the Proteas.
Team India won the first T20I by eight wickets against South Africa with 20 balls to spare as they play next on October 2.
