Gurkeerat is likely to make his ODI debut next month
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India have included uncapped all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh in their ODI squad and uncapped pace bowler Sreenath Aravind in their Twenty20 squad for the upcoming limited overs series against South Africa.
Gurkeerat, who bowls off-spin, replaces fellow all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, while Aravind took Dhawal Kulkarni’s spot on the roster.
“Gurkeerat was picked looking at his all-round capabilities,” chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil said. “The demands of the game are such that we need more all-rounders.”
The national selectors, who met in Bangalore on Sunday afternoon, opted against any captaincy changes, meaning that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead India during the limited overs series, while Virat Kohli will carry on as Test captain.
“We have not discussed anything regarding the ODI captaincy,” Patil said. “We are very happy the way Dhoni has led. We have total backing for Dhoni during this series.”
In regards to the Twenty20 Internationals, India decided not to include the pace trio of Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma as they believe Aravind, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma and Stuart Binny will be able to get the job done.
“We have picked this side looking at the wickets,” Patil said. “We have not lost faith in our [fast] bowlers. There is still a lot of time to go to World Twenty20. We did discuss Ishant Sharma also. Not like we have earmarked him only for Tests.”
India’s series against South Africa consists of three Twenty20 Internationals, five ODIs and four Tests.
India ODI squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh, Amit Mishra
India T20I squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sreenath Aravind, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra