Thiruvananthapuram: Young Shubman Gill would be the cynosure of all eyes when the five-match unofficial ODI series between India A and South Africa begins here on Thursday. Gill, who has been in good form in recent times, shone during the India A team's recent Caribbean tour but missed out on selection for the senior ODI squad. And the batsman would be keen to prove his credentials during the matches against the visiting Proteas 'A' side.

The stylish Punjab right-hander, who played two ODIs in New Zealand earlier this year, would look to continue the good run he enjoyed in the Caribbean (with the 'A' team) to make a case for himself before the national selectors ahead of the home season. Besides Gill, all-rounder Vijay Shankar is another player who will be on the selectors' lens after he recovered from a toe injury. Shankar had to returned mid-way from the ICC World Cup in England due to the injury and made his return to the field during the recent Tamil Nadu Premier League.