With no Shubman Gill (neck injury) and Shreyas Iyer (spleen injury), Gaikwad was included in India\u2019s ODI squad for the three-match series, to be led by wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, against South Africa starting on Sunday at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt's good to be back in blue and really looking forward to again playing for Team India,\u201d said Gaikwad in a video posted by BCCI on X on Saturday, on the sidelines of the team photoshoot activities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gaikwad last featured in an ODI on December 19, 2023, against South Africa in Gqeberha, while his most recent international outing came in a T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 13, 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It's great to have him here. He's been a quality player for a number of years, and if he gets this chance, I'm pretty sure he'll do the country very proud,\" India bowling coach Morne Morkel had said on Friday about Gaikwad\u2019s call-up to the ODI team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gaikwad last featured in an ODI on December 19, 2023, against South Africa in Gqeberha, while his most recent international outing came in a T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 13, 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While left-handed batters Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant remain the frontrunners for the position, Gaikwad\u2019s prolific form gives the team management another option as they weigh up the make-up of their middle order. Following the ODI series opener in Ranchi, India and South Africa will play the next two games in Raipur and Visakhapatnam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n