Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced team india Men’s squad for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. The first Test of the India-South Africa series will take place at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 14, followed by the second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22.
The long-awaited return of Rishabh Pant as vice-captain
India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant Has made the much awaited return to the test field. Pant, who has also been reinstated as vice-captain, will replace him Prasidh Krishna In the squad that featured in India’s last Test series against the West Indies.
The selection, headed by Ajit Agarkar, is Pant’s first Test call-up after suffering an injury in July earlier this year. The left-handed batsman could not play in the final Test of the England series and the home series against West Indies due to a leg fracture during the Manchester Test. His inclusion signals India’s confidence in his fitness and preparation for the resumption of high-intensity international cricket.
Pant got hurt when he attempted a reverse sweep Chris Woakes in the fourth test against EnglandDespite initially batting through pain, his decision to continue aggravated the injury, keeping him away from the game for several months. However, his determination shone through during his rehabilitation phase, which culminated in a successful comeback with India A.
Captaining against India A South Africa A In Bengaluru, Pant played a match-winning inning of 90 runs in the second innings to lead his team to a three-wicket win. His fluent innings and sharp wicket-keeping convinced the selectors about his form and fitness. Pant is also set to lead India A in the second unofficial Test starting on November 6, where he will continue to test his patience ahead of the main series.
Squad balance and key inclusions
The 15-member squad has a balanced mix of youth and experience. with the captain Shubman GillTop Rank Features Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL RahulAnd Sai Sudarshan – A blend of temperament, stability and consistency. Pant is likely to occupy the crucial No. 5 spot, providing the middle order with his trademark attacking touch.
Dhruv Jurel Has retained his place as the backup wicketkeeper after impressive performances against England and West Indies. In the overall department, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington SundarAnd Akshar Patel Whereas, gives India depth and variety in spin Nitish Reddy Adds a seam-bowling option to the mix.
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The bowling attack looks strong with fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah leading the line, supported by Mohammad Siraj and promising sky lampleft arm wrist spinner -Kuldeep Yadav Completes the lineup, giving India a powerful spin option for the conditions that can assist in the turn.
Krishna and N Jagadeesan Despite being an experienced fast bowler, there have been major mistakes in the previous Test setup. Mohammed Shami He has been missing despite impressive domestic performances for Bengal, where he has taken 15 wickets in three matches at an impressive average of 15.53.
Indian Test squad for South Africa series: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper) (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep.