Kolkata : BCCI has picked India’s squad for the upcoming two-match IDFC First Bank Test series against South Africa.
The Shubman Gill led squad will mark the return of Rishabh Pant into the Test format for first time since England tour earlier this year, where he picked up foot fracture and was ruled out for several months, thereby, missing home Test series against West Indies. He proved his match fitness and readiness by captaining India A to victory in the first four-day match against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Pant scored 90 in the second innings as India A successfully chased down a target of 275 in a thrilling fashion.
Rest of the team remains almost same since last tours with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, KL Rahul, Nitish Reddy in top order. Devdutt Padikkal also makes return. Veteran allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar are also included.
Jasprit Bumrah will feature in the series along with other pacers like Akash Deep, Md Siraj. Md Shami doesn’t find a place yet.
India’s schedule for South Africa Test Series –
14-18th Nov – 1st Test – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
22-26th Nov – 2nd Test – Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.
India are currently at third place on the World Test Championship points table with 61.90% points, while South Africa are fifth with 50%, following a 1-1 draw in Pakistan. Following the Test series, India and South Africa will also play three ODIs and five T20Is.
The BCCI also announced the India A squad set to play a three-match 50-over series against South Africa ‘A’ at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on November 13, 16 and 19.
Left-handed batter Tilak Varma has been named the captain, while Ruturaj Gaikwad is appointed as the vice-captain. Other capped India players include Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Khaleel Ahmed.
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK) (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep
India A squad: Tilak Varma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (WK).
