Rohit, Kohli unlikely to feature for India A against SA A

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are unlikely to feature in the three-match white ball series against touring South Africa A side. An India A side will play the three one-day games in Rajkot on November 13, 16 and 19 - all day/night fixtures - but the two senior cricketers, playing only in the ODI format in international cricket, are unlikely to figure in the squad.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the India A squad in a day or two but it is learnt that the selectors have some plans for the three matches, and they are not likely to draft the two veterans for these games.

Rohit and Virat, who led India in all formats, recently played three ODIs in Australia and both were impressive in their outings - Rohit, in fact, was the man of the series - but they did require two or three games to get into the groove. After failing in the first match, Rohit notched scores of 73 and 121 not out to walk away with the series honours while Virat came good in the third match (74 not out) after posting ducks in the first two. The situation might have been different had the two been not as impressive in Australia.

Currently an India A side is involved in a two-match red ball series against South Africa A at CoE in Bengaluru. The Rishabh Pant-led India A won the first four-day match which concluded on November 2. The second match starts on Thursday (November 6).

The Indian selectors are expected to meet soon to announce the squad for the two-Test series against Temba Bavuma's side, and may also pick the India A squad at the same meeting. As for the Test team, there are unlikely to be any changes from the side that played recently against the West Indies, barring the expected inclusion of Rishabh Pant in place of N Jagadeesan.

The two Tests against South Africa, the defending World Test Championship winners, will be played in Kolkata from November 14 to 18, and in Guwahati from November 22 to 26. The Test series will be followed by eight white-ball matches, including three ODIs, for which Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will naturally be selected.