With Shami out, Mukesh seeks gains in ODI series against SA

Mukesh will hope to make an impression in the 50-over format as the injury to Shami opens up a slot in India's Test team 

- Vivek Krishnan

After the heartbreak against Australia in the ODI World Cup final last month, India return to the 50-over format in a three-match series against South Africa starting on Sunday in Johannesburg. The focus has been primarily on ODIs for a major chunk of the year, but the shortest format is set to hog all the limelight again with a T20 World Cup scheduled in the Caribbean and United States in six months.

That this one-day series is low on priority is evident from the weakened teams that India and South Africa are fielding. KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Kuldeep Yadav are the only members of the World Cup squad who have been picked for this series. Iyer is available just for the first ODI and will join up with the Test squad to prepare for the series beginning on December 26. Head coach Rahul Dravid and the rest of the support staff will link up with the Test team ahead of the inter-squad preparatory game from December 20 to 22.

South Africa are also missing quite a few of their regulars in the bowling attack with an eye on the Test series.