Big News for team India, Rohit Sharma clears Fitness Test ahead of West Indies series
Image: BCCI / Saikat Das

BCCI awaits Rohit Sharma to regain fitness, ODI squad announcement might get delayed: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was about to announce team India’s squad for the One Day International (ODI) series against South Africa, however, the meeting has been adjourned due to uncertainty over Rohit Sharma’s fitness. 

It is noteworthy that the new Indian white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma sustained a hamstring injury before the start of the Test series against South Africa. The cricketer was straight away ruled out of the red ball series, however, he can still take part in the ODI series if he manages to prove himself fit.

The Indian selectors want to give every possible chance to Rohit Sharma to regain his comprehensive fitness and hence the squad announcement for the ODI’s has been delayed.

Team India and South Africa will begin the three matches ODI series on 19th January. The second fixture is scheduled for 21st January while the final will be played on 23rd January in Cape Town.

The reports suggest that the team India’s physio is yet to receive a complete fitness report of the new Indian white-ball captain. The selection meeting has also been pushed back to January 1 following the issue of the captain’s fitness.

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It was earlier reported that Rohit Sharma cleared the preliminary fitness test conducted on December 27 at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Bangalore while he will have to go another round of rigorous examination before posing himself available for the selection of the ODI series.

KL Rahul to lead India, if Rohit fails:

Meanwhile, if Rohit fails to clear the fitness standards of the team, KL Rahul will be the first man to lead the men in blue against the Proteas. Rahul has shown grit and resilience during the 1st test against South Africa, which India won by 113 runs.

Rahul scored a brilliant century (123) in the 1st innings against South Africa, backing it with 23 more runs in the second innings. He was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his sensational batting in the first innings.

The Karnataka batsman is already donning Rohit’s shoe as the deputy of Virat Kohli in the test format. He can very well lead team India in the ODI series as well.

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