Venkatesh Iyer set to be part of India's ODI squad for South Africa series: Report

With excellent performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has booked his place in the One-Day International (ODI) squad for the South Africa tour. Iyer has slammed a couple of centuries in the tournament and his medium pacers have also fetched his team some crucial wickets.

Iyer also made his international debut in the T20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand recently.

"Venkatesh is surely going to South Africa. He is bowling 9 or 10 overs in every game and with Hardik still recuperating, it is the best time to give him chance and get him battle-ready for the bigger events ahead," a BCCI source privy to selection committee discussion told PTI on Sunday.

"The new team management absolutely did the right thing in advising him to bat in the middle order. As of now, if he doesn't get injured, Venkatesh is a certainty for the South Africa one-dayers."

Also, Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's has already hit three tons in the tournament, making it difficult for veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan to hang on to his place.

In his four innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy so far, Dhawan has bit 0, 12, 14 and 18, which makes it hard for the selectors to give him a go despite playing a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka - a series in which he also led the side. "Technically, last time India played 50-over series, Dhawan was leading India and also had a match-winning knock in Sri Lanka.

"He has the ability to score runs just when he has back to the wall. So while Gaikwad should be there in the squad, I think selectors might give one last chance to Dhawan, may be take him and give him a game or two," the source said.

The three-match ODI series is set to get underway from January 19, 2022. India will also play three Tests before the 50-over contest, starting December 26.

(With inputs from PTI)