IND vs SL: Here's why Virat Kohli may skip Delhi Test and ODI series

Although the MSK Prasad-led national selection panel will pick the teams for the third and final Test at New Delhi and for the limited overs series against Sri Lanka, the focus of attention will be on the squad they are set to pick for next year's South Africa tour and a possible break for skipper Virat Kohli. Kohli, who has been playing non-stop cricket since IPL, will be given a month's break to recharge his batteries as he is sure to skip the limited overs series (3 ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals) against Sri Lanka in December, where Rohit Sharma will be in charge. In case Kohli also decides to opt out of third Test against Sri Lanka in New Delhi, starting December 2, then Ajinkya Rahane will be leading the side.

Ajinkya Rahane

18-man squad for SA?
The team management may ask for 18 cricketers instead of 16 for South Africa because they would like to have few extra bowlers in the nets. An 18-member squad could have four pacers and three spinners or five pacers and two spin bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been consistent performer for India in limited overs cricket for the last few years, might get chance to accompany Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma to South Africa. Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav has a good chance of making the squad as the third spinner along with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Hardik Pandya, who requested for rest during the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, will fill the all-rounder's spot while Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are likely to get picked as openers. It would be interesting to see if the selectors consider Karnataka batsman Karun Nair, who scored triple century against England last year to strengthen the middle-order on pace-friendly tracks along with regulars Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. Wicketkepeer Parthiv Patel has a good chance to be on board as understudy to Wriddhiman Saha.

Shreyas may get nod
Mumbai's Shreyas Iyer may get into the limited overs team against Sri Lanka while Dhawan, who opted out of the Nagpur Test due to personal reasons, is likely to return.

-With inputs from PTI