India's strongest playing XI for the ODI series against South Africa

The Indian team had a wonderful 2021 cricketing year. They managed to dominate every opposition in almost every format. Barring the T20 World Cup debacle, it was a memorable year for the team and the fans.

However, a new year brings new opportunities. And this is a perfect opportunity for the Men in Blue to shine once again. As they are the most dominant side in the world, they have to start focusing on the 2023 ODI World Cup.

The ODI series against South Africa will be the first one under the guidance of Rahul Dravid. All eyes will be on the former captain Virat Kohli as well, who will be able to play freely as he is no longer the skipper of the side. So, let us have a look at the strongest XI that Team India can assemble.

Here’s India’s strongest predicted playing XI for South Africa series

1. KL Rahul (captain) 

The last year was a memorable one for KL Rahul. He came into the Test side and put up some solid display of technique to establish himself as the premier opener for the side. As there will be no Rohit Sharma available, he will lead the side.

His technique is flamboyant. He has all the shots in the book, and he is calm. This makes him an ideal skipper as well. With Kohli’s presence, he will have someone as a guide as well.

Rahul’s record is ODIs has been excellent. After he made a comeback against Australia, his average has improved. In 38 games, he has scored 1509 runs at an average of 48.68. The Proteas might have a tough time dealing with Rahul.

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Yes, we have opted for Ruturaj instead of Shikhar Dhawan, and if the management is looking for someone who will represent the country in the future, it is Ruturaj. The youngster has been in the form of his life. After a successful IPL, he has been firing on all cylinders in the domestic circuit.

This makes him a deserving candidate. There is no doubt that he will occupy the opening slot once Rohit hangs up his boots, and in his absence, Rahul Dravid and co. can give him a good chance. We all have seen how Ruturaj goes with his game, and his risk-free approach makes him a match-winner.

With an average of 46.61 in the IPL, there is no doubt that he has been the “Most Valuable Player” for CSK. He can find the gaps for fun and can assist other players as well. Adding on, he is a safe fielder as well, which makes him a better option than Dhawan.

3. Virat Kohli

The last two years were somehow miserable for Virat Kohli. With no centuries to his name, he had a horrible time with the bat. Even when he looked flamboyant, he ran out of luck.

We can all consider him as a legend of the game, and legends do make a comeback. With 70 international centuries behind him, there is no doubt that he has to be in this lineup. We might witness the comeback of the “King Kohli” we know.

A century tally of 43 in this format makes him one of the greatest of all time. And it is about just that one century that will change his mindset. After that, we all know, how dangerous Kohli can be when he is in form.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Since Yuvraj departed from the Indian team, there have been numerous batsmen who have tried to settle themselves in the prestigious number four position. But, unfortunately, most of them have failed. However, Suryakumar Yadav is one of the finest batsmen in the domestic circuit at the moment.

Talking about high-pressure games, Surya has a plethora of experiences. In 115 IPL games, Surya has scored 2341 runs. In 2021, he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. With one fifty to his name, he was impressive in that series.

Surya has an impressive strike rate of 122.77 in the 50-over format. Adding on, he is a safe fielder as well. The stylish right-handed batsman can adjust to the conditions and is a perfect choice for this important batting position.

5. Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer grabbed the attention of Indian media after his impressive performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders. His fearless approach towards the game made him a household name. For the national side, he has already made his debut.

As Hardik Pandya has been struggling with his fitness and form, Iyer provides more assurance and stability. In 3 T20Is, he has scored 36 runs with a decent strike rate of 128.57. Adding on, in 10 IPL games, he has an impressive average of 41.11.

Talking about his bowling, he is a handy bowler who can bowl his full quota of overs. He has an economy rate of 4 in T20Is and 8.12 in the IPL. Iyer is a perfect seam bowling all-rounder and can be the perfect choice for the upcoming T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup as well.

6. Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)

Currently, Rishabh Pant is one of the best wicketkeepers in the world. However, the story was quite different a couple of years ago. The fans used to chant “Dhoni” whenever Pant missed a stumping.

As he worked on his batting and keeping, he has become an integral part of the national side. His fearless approach has been noteworthy and his wicketkeeping skills are a thing of beauty. In ODIs, he can play the role of a finisher and his strike rate of 114.25 depicts that.

Pant is one of the prime contenders for the role of captain. And there is no doubt that the team will be looking to shape him into a more mature player. His rise has been exponential so far.

7. Shardul Thakur 

“Lord” as they call him, Shardul Thakur has been the game-changer for the team in the toughest format of the game. He can smash any bowler in the world and is fearless. This makes him a dangerous batsman down the order.

His bowling is a bit ordinary, but his habit of taking wickets against the run of play makes him an asset. Hence, Shardul Thakur is an allrounder who can turn the game around. The Englishmen have seen his wrath at the Oval.

Thakur has played 15 ODIs and scored 107 runs at a strike rate of 144.59. Adding on, he has picked 22 wickets as well. He is someone who can bowl his full quota of 10 overs and smash some quickfire 20 runs for the team. Hence, his presence is an asset for any team he plays.

8. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravi Ashwin slowly has become one of the greats of the game. He has one less Test century than MS Dhoni and more Test centuries than former Australian captain Tim Paine. The most lucrative part about his career is his 429 Test wickets.

His performances have been so impressive that he has been included in the ODI squad. With 111 ODIs to his name, Ashwin has picked 150 wickets. An economy of 4.92 is excellent for a spinner in a batsman-friendly format.

Ashwin is one of the most intelligent cricketers on this planet. He can outsmart the batsman and even if a batting collapse occurs, Ashwin can steady the ship. Without any doubt, he is the premier spinner in this squad.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Time is indeed running out for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He has certainly made it to this ODI squad but he needs to back it up with performances. He is an experienced bowler but youngsters are coming up with strong showings and with Mohammed Siraj already in the squad, Bhuvi will have to make sure he stays fit and performs as well.

He has featured in 119 ODIs for India picking up 141 wickets at an average of 34.2. His economy of 5.03 is one of the best when it comes to modern-day cricket and for the same reason, he is being backed by the team management.

Bhuvi bowls some tough overs upfront and at the death. He will be crucial for India going forward and in this series. But the man will have to be consistent in his performances now.

10. Jasprit Bumrah 

Currently, Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world alongside Pat Cummins. The speedster has been the face of the Indian pace bowling attack for quite some time now. And he has been named as the vice-captain of the ODI squad.

Bumrah has provided breakthroughs whenever his captain needed him to pick wickets. He rarely has off days and is the best death bowler in the circuit. To add a cherry to the cake, Bumrah has improved as a batsman as well.

In 67 ODIs, he has picked 108 wickets with the best bowling figures of 5/27. A bowling economy rate of 4.66 shows his effectiveness. Even the best batsmen in the world are unable to dominate him.

11. Yuzvendra Chahal

The fans were shocked when Yuzvendra Chahal was left out of the T20 World Cup squad. After India’s exit, the fans were more furious as Varun Chakravarthy was ineffective. Unfortunately, it was too late for the team to make a solid comeback as they had to rely on other teams’ performances.

However, the management should look forward to including Chahal in their ODI World Cup plans. The legspinner has been impressive in the ODI format. With 97 wickets in 56 matches, Chahal has been able to work effectively in difficult circumstances.

He has an economy rate of 5.2 in the ODI format and has picked 2 five-wicket hauls for the team. Chahal also brings experience to the table and is a complete team man. He can be the man who makes a huge impact on his day with the ball.