ODI Squad Announced: Gaikwad, Jaiswal in Race to Replace Injured Shubman Gill

Gaikwad also has good figures in List A cricket. The CSK captain has scored 4534 runs in 89 List A matches at an average of 57.39, while the left-hander has scored 1526 runs in 33 matches at an average of 52.62. Gaikwad has been in the best form of his career recently. In the India A vs South Africa A ODI series, he scored 117, 68*, and 25 in three matches, all of which came while batting at the top of the order.

Gaikwad's more experienced form and form warrants a place in the top order for the India vs South Africa ODIs. Furthermore, this role may not last long, especially since Rutu could be suddenly dropped from the team if Gill returns.

As for Jaiswal, he could be considered a long-term opening option. He could certainly be a frontrunner to open alongside Gill after Rohit Sharma's retirement. This will not only ensure that India will move forward with a right-left combination in mind, but will also provide a decision on the left-hander, who is considered an all-format player.

Indian ODI squad: KL Rahul (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Dhruv Jurel.