Former India opener Wasim Jaffer unveiled his choice of the eleven Indian players that should play in the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa which will be played on January 19 at Boland Park in Paarl. The second ODI will also be played at the same venue on January 21 and the third and final ODI will be played on January 23 in Cape Town.

South Africa has the momentum with them as they won the Test series 2-1 and that too after losing the first Test match in Centurion. The Dean Elgar-led side made a stupendous comeback into the Test series, winning the next two Tests by 7 wickets apiece and keeping their slate clean against India at home in Tests.

Now the focus shifts to the ODI series which will see KL Rahul captaining the Indian team for the first time in the format, having recently made his Test captaincy debut in the Johannesburg match, which India lost. India had won the ODI series last time they toured South Africa in 2018 under Virat Kohli’s captaincy.

Wasim Jaffer Named His India XI; Leaves Out Venkatesh Iyer And Deepak Chahar

Meanwhile, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer picked his India XI for the first ODI against South Africa and decided to open with captain KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. He then went with Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant in the middle order with Pant keeping wickets.

For the finisher’s role, instead of Venkatesh Iyer, Jaffer chose Suryakumar Yadav at no.6 spot with Shardul Thakur taking up the all-rounder’s spot instead of either Iyer or Deepak Chahar. Chahar in his last outing for India in ODIs, helped his team win a match with his match against Sri Lanka last year.

He then picked Bhuvneshwar Kumar while keeping Mohammed Siraj as an option, given his fitness issue. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin were the two spinners he picked while vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah completed the playing XI.

Wasim Jaffer’s Predicted Indian team playing XI for the first ODI against South Africa:

KL Rahul (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar / Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah (VC)

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