In-form batsman KL Rahul, who leads India in the ongoing first ODI against South Africa, has become the third player to lead his country in a 50-over game without first captaining ‘List A’ cricket. Huh.
The other two players from India who achieved this rare feat are wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani and flamboyant opener Virender Sehwag.
India vs South Africa: full coverage , photos , the schedule , result
Rahul was handed the captaincy for the three-match ODI series as newly appointed captain Rohit Sharma was not fit for the series and the selectors decided to move on from Virat Kohli after he resigned as T20 captain.
KL Rahul, who hails from Karnataka, is also captaining India for the first time in his 39th ODI and the last time a player played 50 ODIs before the country was led by Mohinder Amarnath was in October 1984.
This was the 35th ODI of ‘Jimmy’ Amarnath, when he captained the team.
South Africa have decided to bat first in the current game and Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer will make his ODI debut.
Read also: Venkatesh Iyer, Marco Janssen debut as SA bat firsts
Rahul paid tribute to Virat Kohli who had also resigned from Test captaincy last week. “There was a lot going on in the last few days and right after the Test. Emotional for the team (Kohli resigns). Many of us have made our debuts under Virat. Obviously he is still with us and an important part of the team.”
to follow: India vs South Africa, 1st ODI
On the strategy of the ODI series, he said, ‘Just want to try a few things in terms of strategy and tactics. The personnel will not change much. Want to give them good runs. Experimentation doesn’t mean we go in and start hitting with the first ball.”
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