New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, which follows the conclusion of the ongoing second Test. The three ODIs are scheduled for November 30, December 3, and December 6.
KL Rahul has been appointed as the stand-in skipper for the series, taking over from regular captain Shubman Gill, who is sidelined due to a neck injury. This decision has prompted former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif to express his support for Rahul’s captaincy role in the ODI format.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Kaif stated, “There’s no one else. Rohit Sharma should’ve captained but they moved on from him earlier. He should’ve been the captain now, given he is coming off a hundred in Sydney. The Indian team is now having a mindset of having to move on and giving opportunities to new players. Till the time Rohit is playing and in form, he should’ve captained. Virat Kohli won’t captain, Yashasvi Jaiswal doesn’t play that regularly, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been given opportunities. Even Rishabh Pant is coming back after a long time.”
Kaif emphasized KL Rahul’s experience in captaincy, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL), reasoning that this background could benefit him as he prepares to lead against South Africa. “Hence, he seems like the right choice. He has captaincy experience and even did it in IPL. Until Shubman Gill returns, Rahul seems like the right option. I’m still surprised though. The player who made the team, who backed KL Rahul, is Rohit Sharma. Despite being in the squad, the captaincy is snatched away from him. There will be questions about that,” Kaif remarked.
The series marks a critical period for India as they adapt to leadership changes ahead of important international fixtures.
