1. Captaincy Change:
KL Rahul has been named captain for India’s upcoming 3-match ODI series against South Africa.
This is a temporary appointment (“stand-in captain”) because of Gill’s injury.
2. Why Shubman Gill is Out?
Gill has a neck injury, sustained during the first Test in Kolkata.
Because of this injury, he’s ruled out of the ODI series.
According to reports, the injury is “more complex than initially expected.”
3. Other Key Squad Details:
Shreyas Iyer, who was vice-captain, is also unavailable due to injury (spleen injury).
Rishabh Pant is back in the ODI squad, serving as a wicketkeeper alongside Rahul.
Rested Players: Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj are rested for this series.
Returns / Replacements: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma have been recalled into the ODI squad.
Veterans Included: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are part of the 15-member squad.
4. Series Schedule:
The first ODI starts on 30 November in Ranchi.
Second match: 3 December in Raipur.
Third ODI: 6 December in Visakhapatnam.
5. Rahul’s Leadership History:
Rahul has captained India in ODIs before — he led in about 12 matches between 2022 and 2023.
Under his captaincy previously, India won a series against South Africa in 2023.
Why This Matters / Significance?
The change shows how India is managing injury risks: Both their regular captain (Gill) and vice-captain (Iyer) are unavailable, so they are turning to experienced backup in Rahul.
It’s also an opportunity for players like Tilak Varma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Rishabh Pant to make an impact in the ODI format.
For Rahul, this is a leadership chance — if he does well, it could boost his standing in the team not just as a batter, but also as a leader.
