India have recalled a fit-again KL Rahul for their home World Cup later this year but off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is not in the 15-man squad, which did not contain any real surprises.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul has not played competitively since May after suffering a thigh injury but is due to join the team in Sri Lanka for the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.
Ishan Kishan, who has smashed a 50 in his last four one-day internationals, leads the race for the wicketkeeper’s spot partly because of the left-handed variety he brings.
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“It’s a good headache to have, isn’t it?” chief selector Ajit Agarkar told reporters in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.
“Ishan played a lovely innings (in the Asia Cup), can open the innings … KL’s one-day record is fantastic.
Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
“So when he comes, there will be conversations but you at least have two options now.”
Kuldeep Yadav is the lone frontline wrist-spinner in the Rohit Sharma-led squad, which contains spin allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
Ashwin, who remains India’s preferred spinner in Test cricket, was not accommodated though.
“Both give us depth in batting,” Agarkar said of Jadeja and Patel. “In 50 overs cricket, perhaps you would ideally want an off-spinner but this gives us the best balance.”
Rohit was happy with the depth in his squad but demanded more contribution from India’s tailenders.
“We found this lacking in our team for the last few years, so we wanted to make sure that we get that batting depth somehow.
“It’s not just to come out and bowl out the opposition but it’s also to contribute with the bat, and it can make a huge difference.”
Twice champions India, who lost in the semi-finals in 2019, begin their World Cup campaign with an October 8 contest against Australia in Chennai.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.
Meanwhile, South Africa have included spinner Keshav Maharaj and seamer Sisanda Magala in their World Cup squad after the pair overcame fitness concerns.
Wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has also announced he will retire from the format after the tournament.
Coach Rob Walter included only seven players with past World Cup experience as South Africa seek to lift a trophy that has eluded them in often bizarre circumstances since they made their debut in 1992.
The squad will be captained by batter Temba Bavuma, with Maharaj overcoming a ruptured Achilles. He played for the first time since March in South Africa’s five-wicket Twenty20 international loss to Australia on Sunday.
Magala had been laid low by a knee injury and missed that series, but his clever change of pace and guile with the ball will be an asset on Indian wickets.
Experienced allrounder Wayne Parnell is a notable absentee but has been struggling with a shoulder injury, while young batters Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs have not been selected.
South Africa go into the tournament with two frontline spinners in Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, though batter Aiden Markram is a more than useful third option.
“It’s great having a mix of experienced players and players who will be competing in their first 50-over World Cup – you get that sort of exuberance of excitement to be doing something for the first time,” Walter said.
“Similar to the level of experience, we have endeavoured to curate a well-balanced group of players and skill that will allow us to effectively adapt to the conditions in India.”
The 30-year-old de Kock, who has already retired from Test cricket, confirmed he will not play ODIs beyond the World Cup.
“We understand his decision to step back from ODI cricket and we want to thank him for his service over the years,” South Africa’s director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said.
“We wish him well for the future but still look forward to seeing him represent the Proteas in T20 cricket.”
The team begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on October 7.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen.
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