India vs SA: Venkatesh Iyer likely to be in the team for the first ODI along with Shikhar Dhawan

Skipper Rahul thinks of giving Venkatesh Iyer the chance for the first ODI as the 6th bowling option and Dhawan is likely to open with skipper Rahul.

Indian captain for the South Africa series KL Rahul seemed to give us a hint of including Venkatesh Iyer in the playing XI. Venkatesh Iyer is preferably the 6th bowler for team India and since his batting helped his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders to reach the finals, India can also use Venkatesh as a perfect all-rounder.

Hardik Pandya is still struggling with his back injury, and Venkatesh Iyer can be a perfect replacement for Hardik for team India since the middle order has always been a question for the Indians. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been included in the squad, but with Shikhar Dhawan coming back, Ruturaj is likely to be rested for the first ODI. With Dhawan to open for India, skipper Rahul will likely partner with Dhawan for the ODIs.

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Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah come back after missing the Sri Lanka series, and team India will be including their top batsman and top bowler in team XI. With Virat stepping down from captaincy from Tests and T20, Rohit was preferred the skipper as India needed a single captain for limited ODI series but with Rohit heading out due to injury, KL Rahul has been chosen as the skipper, which gives us a hint of who is going to be the next Test skipper for team India.

Boland Park seems to encourage spinners and India might prefer Ashwin as well as Yuzvendra Chahal to help India take ‘turning’ wickets since the first two ODIs are to be played at Bolan Park, Paarl. Captain Rahul too wants both the spinners to change the game for team India. With Ashwin back into the ODI squad have to make a remarkable presence since his Test series has only bagged in 3 wickets throughout the 3 match Test series.