A new-look Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will aim to make a statement and be in the reckoning for next year’s 50-over World Cup when the three-match ODI series against South Africa begins here on Thursday.

In the absence of the regulars, who are off to Australia for the T20 World Cup, the Indian selectors opted for a fresh squad that includes rookies such as pacer Mukesh Kumar and batter Rajat Patidar.

The squad also features a few T20 World Cup reserve players. But the threat of rain has cast a shadow over the match. It rained on Wednesday and there is a forecast for more showers on Thursday. Dhawan led the ODI team in Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe and will don the responsibility once again here.

“I feel very blessed I had a beautiful career. I am really grateful. Whenever possible I pass on my knowledge to the youngsters. Now there is new responsibility on me but I see opportunity in challenges and I enjoy it,” Dhawan said on the eve of the series opener.

“My goal currently is 2023World Cup. I just want to keep myself fit and be in a good state of mind to be in the fray,” the left-handed opener added.

Middle-order batterShreyas Iyer, who is part of the reserves for the T20 World Cup, will serve as Dhawan’s deputy in the series. Right-arm pacer Deepak Chahar and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, the other players from the standby list, have also been included in the ODI team for the matches against South Africa.

Opener Shubman Gill, who has impressed in limited opportunities in the ODIs, is likely to resume his partnership with Dhawan at the top. Among other batters, either Rahul Tripathi or Patidar is likely to make an ODI debut on Thursday.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are the other batters in the squad who will form the fulcrum of India’s middle-order.

Left-arm spinner ShahbazAhmed, who was recently called up to the T20I squad for the South Africa series, Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav form India’s spin attack. The pace department will be spearheaded by Shardul Thakur, Chahar, Avesh Khan and Mohammed Siraj and will also have a new face in Mukesh, a prolific red ball bowler for Bengal, who emerged as the top wicket-taker in the first-class games against New Zealand A and produced a stellar show in the Irani Cup match against 2019-20 Ranji champions Saurashtra.

But it will be a tough test for India as the South Africans will be playing for points that they need to qualify for the World Cup next year. They will be banking on the experienced Quinton deKock, skipper Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Reeza Hendricks and Janneman Malan to do the job in the batting department.