Who will coach India in ODI series against South Africa in absence of Rahul Dravid?

Rahul Dravid will be overseeing India’s preparation for the two-match test series.

After smashing Australia in 2018 and then again in 2021, India are left to breach only one fortress in red-ball cricket. They have not yet won a test series in South Africa. Team India came closer to winning the series against the Proteas in their backyard on many occasions but somehow choked in crunch moments. India will be beginning their quest one more time in a two-match Test series against the Proteas starting on Boxing Day. 

Team India’s main target in the ongoing South African tour is to win their final frontier in red-ball format. India will be holding special inter-squad games for the preparation of the upcoming series. The BCCI has planned differently for the red-ball preparation. According to BCCI’s plan, Indian support staff led by Rahul Dravid will be present with the Indian test side skipping the three-match ODI series and will chart out the plan for the two-match test series. 

Sitanshu Kotak led support staff for the ODI series

In an interesting move, India A coach Sitanshu Kotak will be joining the Indian dressing room for the three-match ODI series along with bowling coach Rajib Dutta and fielding coach Ajay Ratra. Rahul Dravid and team will oversee the preparations for the two-match Test series. Shreyas Iyer will also be skipping the final two ODI games and will join the test squad to take part in the inter-squad games before the first test scheduled to be played at Supersport Park in Centurion. 

BCCI in an official release informed, “Team India (Senior Men) Head Coach Mr. Rahul Dravid, Batting Coach Mr. Vikram Rathour, Bowling Coach Mr. Paras Mhambrey and Fielding Coach Mr. T. Dilip will link up with the Test squad and oversee their preparations for the inter-squad game and the Test series. The ODI team will be assisted by India A’s Coaching Staff comprising Batting Coach Mr. Sitanshu Kotak, Bowling Coach Mr. Rajib Datta, and Fielding Coach Mr. Ajay Ratra.” 

Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the two-match test series between India and South Africa as the right-arm pacer is currently struggling with an ankle injury. Deepak Chahar has been replaced by Akash Deep as he was unable to join the Indian camp due to a health emergency in his family. The first ODI between India and South Africa will be played at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday. The T20I series between the two ended in a draw with both teams securing one win each.

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