Xtra Time Web Desk: In what comes as a huge setback for the Indian cricket team, Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the upcoming test series against Proteas starting from December 26 in Centurion. The ace fast bowler has not travelled with the final batch of cricketers to South Africa on Friday. Shami, whose participation in the Test series was subject to fitness has not been cleared by the BCCI Medical Team and the fast bowler is ruled out of the two Tests.
Shami has been part of Test series to South Africa in 2013-14, 2017-18 & 2021-22. He has 48 wickets versus Proteas in Tests & with the kind of rhythm he was in at the recently concluded World Cup, he would’ve had a huge impact in the Test series.
In another development medium pacer Deepak Chahar has informed the BCCI that he will not be available for the upcoming ODI series due to a family medical emergency. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Bengal’s Akash Deep as his replacement.
After the conclusion of the first ODI in Johannesburg on December 17, Shreyas Iyer will join the Test squad to prepare for the Test series. He will not be available for the second and third ODI and will take part in the inter-squad game. The entire support staff of the senior men’s team including Head Coach Rahul Dravid will link up with the Test squad and oversee their preparations for the inter-squad game and the Test series
The ODI team will be assisted by India A’s coaching staff comprising of batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling Coach Rajib Datta and fielding coach Ajay Ratra
Here is India’s updated ODI squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (C)(wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep