IND vs SA: Will Rinku Singh Make ODI Debut? Skipper KL Rahul Answers Ahead Of Series Opener

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Rinku Singh has earned his maiden ODI call up to the national team after impressive performances in the home T20I series against Australia. The Uttar Pradesh batter has also impressed during the two T20Is in South Africa.

The 26-year-old has featured for the Indian team in all the seven white ball matches (all T20Is) since the ODI World Cup final. Now, the question remains if he will straight away get into the ODI playing 11 with majority of the World Cup stars not being available.

While there is no confirmation that Rinku will play the ODI series opener on Sunday (December 17) at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, skipper KL Rahul has said that the left-handed batter has impressed everyone with his temperament, hinting of a possible debut.

"He has shown what a good player he is. We all knew how skilled he is having watched him in the IPL, but what has been really good to see has been the temperament he has shown in the T20I series," Rahul said in a pre-match press conference.

"And the game awareness and calmness under pressure. It was refreshing to see. He has performed well across formats in domestic cricket, so yes he will get his opportunity."

Will Rinku Singh make ODI debut in IND vs SA 1st ODI?

It could be down to him or Tilak Varma for a middle order spot. But there is every chance that both the players could miss out on a spot in the series opener as the other players, who are also middle order options may be preferred over the duo.

However, with Shreyas Iyer set to join the Test side after the first ODI, both Rinku and Varma could find a spot in the playing 11, meaning Rinku's ODI debut could happen in the second match of the three-match series.

Who will keep wickets in the IND vs SA ODI series?

The Indian skipper also revealed that he will be donning the wicketkeeping gloves and batting in the middle order, hinting that Sanju Samson, who also returned to the squad as a second wicketkeeper, will play as a batter, also in the middle order.

"Sanju will bat in the middle order. That is the role he has played whenever he has played ODI cricket. He will bat at No. 5 or 6. For now, I am going to keep wickets, but if there is an opportunity for him in that role, he will definitely at some point in the series," Rahul added.

India's squad for 3 ODIs: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer (Only 1st ODI), KL Rahul (captain/wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep.