India's predicted XI for 2nd ODI vs South Africa: IPL star to feature in series decider in Ranchi?

Shikhar Dhawan-led Team India will take on South Africa in the second ODI at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday. All-rounder Washington Sundar has replaced injured pacer Deepak Chahar for the remainder of the series.

One-day captain Shikhar Dhawan with VVS Laxman ahead of the first match between India and South Africa (PTI)

Team India suffered a major setback ahead of the second One Day International (ODI) as pacer Deepak Chahar was ruled out of the rest of the bilateral series due to injury. Pacer Chahar, who was earlier in the T20 World Cup count, has returned with a stiff back at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Led by veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan, the second-row Indian team will take on South Africa in the second ODI at the JSCA International Stadium complex on Sunday.

Dhawan-led team India is heading towards the first match of the series after suffering a 9-run defeat at the hands of the Proteas. Batting heroics from Heinrich Klaasen (74*) and David Miller (75*) took the Temba Bavuma-led side to 249-4 in a 40-over encounter. In response, the Dhawan-led India were reduced to 51-4 before Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson made impressive comebacks for the hosts in a rain-hit match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

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Veteran opener Dhawan (4) and his partner-in-crime Shubman Gill (3) will be hoping for a better performance with the willow after playing a forgetful innings in the first ODI against South Africa. Indian Premier League (IPL) superstars Ruturaj Gaikwad (19) and Ishan Kishan (20) also failed to capitalize on their respective debuts in the first ODI between India and South Africa.

While white-ball maverick Iyer scored 50 off 47 balls, wicketkeeper-batsman Samson remained unbeaten on 86 off 63 balls. Iyer and Samson are nothing but definite starts in the Indian playing XI for the second ODI. With Washington Sundar replacing Chahar, the Indian think tank has another spin-bowling option with Ravi Bishnoi.

The youngster made his debut in the first ODI of the series, but ended up conceding 69 runs. Thus, all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed is in the fray to replace Bishnoi in the Indian playing XI for the series decider. Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar also has a chance to lead the Dhawan-led side's pace attack in the absence of injured pacer Chahar on Sunday.

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shubman Gill

Middle order: Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson (wk)

Power-Hitter: Ishaan Kishan

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi/Shahbaz Ahmed

Fast bowlers: Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Mohammad Siraj.

India squad for South Africa ODI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Rahul Tripathi , Rajat Patidar, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Washington Sundar.