India A are all set to take on South Africa A in a three-match one-day series. The opening encounter will be contested in Rajkot on Thursday, November 13.
India have named a strong squad for the rubber. Tilak Varma will lead the side, with Ruturaj Gaikwad serving as his deputy. Almost the entire pace attack featured in the Men in Blue’s recent ODI series against Australia, while the batters are all names with immense potential.
### India A’s Updated Squad for One-Day Series:
Tilak Varma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy.
—
### India A’s Strongest Playing XI for the One-Dayers Against South Africa A
**Openers:**
Prabhsimran Singh (wk) and Abhishek Sharma
Prabhsimran Singh should ideally be India’s first-choice wicket-keeper against South Africa A, with Ishan Kishan serving as his deputy. The Punjab right-hander went from strength to strength during this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League and deserves more chances with the A team.
Abhishek Sharma will partner his Punjab teammate at the top of the order. The explosive left-hander will look to translate his hitting prowess from the shorter formats into the ODI format, where building a well-constructed innings will be crucial.
**Middle Order:**
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma (c), Riyan Parag, Ayush Badoni, Vipraj Nigam
Selecting the middle order is straightforward given the clear options available. Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Tilak Varma will anchor the top four and contribute significantly.
The talented duo of Riyan Parag and Ayush Badoni are expected to chip in with both bat and ball, adding valuable depth. Nishant Sindhu might have to wait for his turn following the addition of Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is poised to serve as the fourth pace option and primary finisher.
Vipraj Nigam’s presence provides the side with a wrist-spin option, complemented by the supporting spin roles of Parag, Badoni, and Abhishek Sharma.
**Lower Order:**
Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna
India will boast a formidable pace attack against South Africa A. The talented trio of Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana should form the frontline bowling unit, with Khaleel Ahmed available as a backup.
Abhishek Sharma’s inclusion may result in Manav Suthar and Nishant Sindhu remaining on the bench for this series.
—
With such a balanced and strong squad, India A look well-prepared to take on South Africa A in this exciting one-day series. Fans can look forward to some competitive cricket and the emergence of future stars.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/india-a-s-strongest-playing-xi-one-dayers-vs-south-africa-a-ft-nitish-kumar-reddy-ruturaj-gaikwad
