India vs South Africa ODI Series 2023: We Are Grooming KL Rahul for Captaincy, Says Chief Selector Chetan Sharma

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 31: Chetan Sharma, Chairman, All India Senior-Selection Committee on Friday revealed that selectors are grooming KL Rahul for the function of captaincy. KL Rahul who has been fulfilling the vice-captaincy duties within the ongoing three-match Test series towards South Africa on Friday was handed the function of skipper for the ODI series. Rohit Sharma would have been the captain, however he was deemed unfit by the selectors and therefore Rahul would act as a captain whereas Jasprit Bumrah might be deputy of the opener within the three-match ODI series. India vs South Africa ODI Series 2023: KL Rahul To Lead in Absence of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah Named Vice-Captain As Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer Earn Maiden Call-UpsAbout grooming KL Rahul for the long run, Chetan Sharma within the press convention stated: "Yes, definitely we are looking at KL Rahul at the present. He is a three format player and he got a good experience of captaincy and he has proved his leadership qualities, this is what all selectors think."Captaincy comes with loads of duty and the Karnataka lad is used to it as he has already captained the Punjab Kings workforce within the Indian Premier League. Chetan Sharma Clarifies That BCCI and Other Selectors Asked Virat Kohli To Continue As T20I Captain for Sake of Indian Cricket."Like Rohit is not fit and we thought KL will be the best who can handle the side and that's why we have good confidence in Rahul and we are grooming him," Sharma added. India's tour of South Africa, 2021-22, consists of two series: the Test and One-Day International series, happening from December 26 to January 23, 2023, throughout 4 venues. Visitors at present have a lead of 1-0 within the Test series, after the historic triumph at Centurion.The three-match ODI series will start on January 19 at Boland Park, Paarl. The second ODI match will occur on Jan 21 on the similar venue and the third ODI might be at Newlands, Cape Town on January 23.Opening batter Rohit Sharma on December 8 was named India's new ODI skipper and the star participant was set to take over from Kohli beginning with the South Africa series. But as he's at present nursing his harm, the full-time ODI captaincy debut should wait for the 34-year-old. Mohammed Shami has been rested whereas Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are injured.India's ODI squad: KL Rahul (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Y Chahal, R Ashwin, W Sundar, J Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Mohd. Siraj.