India is gearing up to face South Africa in a three-match ODI series starting November 30, followed by a five-match T20I series from December 9, with the squad announcement expected soon. However, India will be without several key players for the ODIs, raising questions about leadership and team composition.
Key Players Injured
Skipper Shubman Gill remains doubtful due to a neck injury, which will rule him out of the Guwahati Test and may keep him sidelined for the ODI series. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is also unavailable after sustaining a severe injury in Australia last month, and although he is recovering, he is not yet ready for competitive cricket. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who captained India in three previous ODIs, is still recovering from the injury sustained during the 2025 Asia Cup final and is expected to return only for the T20I series.
Despite these absences, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make their comeback, playing in India together for the first time since the IPL 2025.
