"Reduce the Tummy" - Fans urge Rohit Sharma after he misses SA ODI's due to a fitness issue
Rohit Sharma, the newly appointed white-ball skipper, will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. He is yet to achieve optimum fitness levels after missing the ongoing Test series due to an injury. After consulting with the NCA and Rohit Sharma about his fitness, the BCCI announced the Indian squad for the ODI series against South Africa.
Rohit Sharma's Test match opening partner, KL Rahul, will lead Team India in his absence. Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will serve as Rahul's deputy during the series.
Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got a call-back after a long hiatus from ODI cricket. He will handle the spin department with Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar on this tour. Left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were unavailable for selection due to fitness concerns.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer gave impressive performances in the 2021 IPL and Vijay Hazare trophy. Hence, they received a well-deserved call-up to the ODI squad. It will be interesting to see who joins Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order in the upcoming series. KL Rahul will be the prime candidate to fill Rohit Sharma's shoes alongside Dhawan.
KL Rahul has been successful in ODI's at number 5 over the past year. He has added some experience and solidity to the middle-order after MS Dhoni called time on his legendary career. If KL Rahul decides to remain in the number 5 position, CSK batter Ruturaj Gaikwad might earn an opportunity to open the innings.
18-man Indian ODI Squad for the 3-match series against South Africa
KL Rahul (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaekwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Y Chahal, R Ashwin, W Sundar, J Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj
Twitter reacts after Rohit Sharma missed the South Africa ODI series due to fitness concerns
Fans were happy to welcome the newcomers gleefully and were excited to see Jasprit Bumrah in a new role as vice-captain. However, most were disappointed to see Rohit Sharma miss the tour as it was his first after appointment as full-time white-ball captain. They brutally trolled him for not improving his fitness and lent him some bits of advice on Twitter.
Here are some of the best reactions:
@KShriniwasRao @ImRo45 for the zillionth time, reduce the Tummy and thunder thighs mate
Temporary Captain to Unfit Captain
The Journey of Rohit Sharma as ICT Captain @imro45 🔥👏
Rohit sharma's ODI Captaincy career :
#RohitSharma #INDvSA https://t.co/PVRM54UCtY
Rohit to his fans:
#Rohitsharma @ImRo45 https://t.co/Xr2UPdrNHR
@CricCrazyJohns Rohit Sharma has missed 5 test(wtc)
And three ODIs(odi championship) and will now play against west Indies in Paytm series
Gaint of Paytm cricket nohit sharma
@BoriaMajumdar @klrahul11 #RohitSharma is very injury prone, Time has come that he should say good bye to Tests. 😎😎
#ChetanSharma
#ViratKohli #BCCI #viratvsbcci
#viratkholi #QuintondeKock #indvsa #indvssaf #INDvsSA #savind #savsind #askstar #AUSvENG #AusvsEng #ENGvAUS #ENGvsAUS #Ashes #Ashes2021 https://t.co/MgowYHUgdC
Just saw the ODI squad for the South Africa series. I'll say the best decision that the selectors have made is making Jasprit Bumrah the VC of that team.
I think he could be a future captain for India esp. if selectors move away from their fixation of keeping a batsman as one.
If one good thing came out of today's post selection presser, Jasprit #Bumrah being named VC. Yes, its temporary and once Rohit comes back and Rahul is again VC, Bumrah will probably pick and choose white ball series, but its an acknowledgement that he is seen as leader.
#INDvsSA
Jasprit Bumrah is the vice captain for the ODI series against SA. Our King has come a long way. https://t.co/ZtwFx93tCo
So Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin (ODIs) make a return.
KL Rahul is being looked at as a future captain and Jasprit Bumrah tactical acumen has been rewarded with vice-captaincy.
Bumrah as a future leader excites me the most.
#TeamIndia
Congrats to KL RAHUL on being appointed as the captain for the South Africa series in absence of Rohit Sharma. Also I am so happy for Jasprit Bumrah for being appointed as the vice-captian of the team💙
Get well soon Ro🙂💔 #INDvsSA
Rohit Sharma wont be picked untill he sheds 15 kgs.. - (Source - Brickinfo)
#IndianCricketTeam #INDvsSA
@venkatatweets People calling for showing Dhawan the door should remember that he averages 45 in ODIs, which is more than the God himself, he has been phenomenal for India in ICC ODI tournaments & he hasn't put a foot wrong.
Why are people in this nation so obsessed with age?
Bumrah as VC is❤️
This Captain & Vice-captain combo could well be the future leadership core for Indian Cricket; but only if KL continues to perform the way he is in tests for the next 4-5 years, otherwise Bumrah, like Cummins, should lead India in the ultimate format! #Bumrah #IndianCricketTeam