The Indian teams for the remaining two ODIs and the upcoming Test series are expected to be announced on Monday when the selection committee chaired by Sandeep Patil meets in Delhi.
[Get the squads for the final two ODIs and first two Tests HERE]
The focus of the selectors might be the Test squad as the ODI team might not have a major reshuffle, unless someone picks up an unfortunate injury in the ongoing third ODI in Rajkot or the selectors feel a serious need of a player to strengthen the squad.
The selectors are aware of South Africa, who are ranked number one in the Test arena, so it is imperative for them to select the best possible squad without any question on players' fitness.
In that case, players such as Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma's fitness comes under question. Aswhin has been ruled out of the ODI series after he sustained an injury during the first one day match against South Africa in Kanpur while Ishant experienced an unfortunate hamstring injury during a Ranji Trophy game.
However, even if Ishant is selected for the squad and remains fit, he is still unavailable for the first Test as he has to serve one-match ban after some disciplinary issues against Sri Lanka in the island nation.
Though the pitches in India are expected to assist the spinners, the men in blue are all set to include Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron as pacers in the squad. Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh are likely to handle the spin department. If Ashwin is passed unfit, other spinners in the fray, such as Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja, might also get a chance in white clothing.
Wriddhiman Saha, who is set to be selected as the gloveman for India, has been shouldering the responsibility behind the wickets after MS Dhoni decided to quit the longest format of the game late last year.
The Indian team, which has always possessed some dangerous batsmen in the past, is likely to include Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli. It remains to be seen if Suresh Raina, who has not done much in coloured clothing against South Africa, will find a place in the team or not.
The four-match Test series will begin on November 5 in Mohali while the remaining 2 ODIs are scheduled for October 22 and 25 in Chennai and Mumbai respectively.
