MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against South Africa, beginning November 14 in Kolkata. The squad features the much-awaited return of vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who is set to make his Test comeback after recovering from injury.
Rishabh Pant Returns to Strengthen India’s Batting Line-up
Rishabh Pant, India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batter, missed the recent West Indies Test series due to a foot injury sustained during the fourth Test against England in July. His return marks a major boost for India’s middle order and leadership group.
The 28-year-old recently proved his form and fitness by leading India A to victory over South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He played a crucial innings of 90 runs in the second innings, guiding his team to a successful chase of 275 runs.
Pant’s inclusion adds both experience and balance to India’s Test setup as the team looks to consolidate its position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.
Akash Deep Makes a Comeback
Right-arm pacer Akash Deep has also been recalled to the national squad after recovering from a back injury that sidelined him during the Duleep Trophy and the West Indies series. The 28-year-old, who impressed on India’s tour of England, recently represented Bengal in the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy, signaling his return to full fitness.
Key Players to Join After T20I Series in Australia
India’s Test captain Shubman Gill, along with Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar, are currently participating in the five-match T20I series in Australia. They are expected to link up with the Test squad immediately after the series concludes on November 8.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav was released from the T20I squad after the third match in Hobart to join India A for the second four-day match against South Africa A beginning November 6. This decision is aimed at giving him more red-ball preparation ahead of the Tests.
Test Venues: Kolkata and Guwahati
The two Tests will be held in Kolkata (November 14–18) and Guwahati (November 22–26). The upcoming match in Guwahati will be a historic occasion as the city will host a Test match for the first time.
India currently sits third in the World Test Championship table with 61.90% of the points, while South Africa is fifth with 50%, following a recent 1-1 draw in Pakistan.
India’s Full Test Squad for South Africa Series
Shubman Gill (Captain)
Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & Wicketkeeper)
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’s Focus on Consistency in WTC
With the World Test Championship race heating up, this series is crucial for India’s hopes of returning to the WTC final. Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, the team will look to maintain dominance at home while giving opportunities to young players like Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal.
Pant’s return, Bumrah’s pace attack, and the spin trio of Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep make India a formidable side on home soil. Fans eagerly await another exciting chapter in India’s Test cricket journey as they take on a determined South African side.
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- Khalid Javed is known as Khalid Minhas is editor of Daily Olympic.He is a seasoned journalist and worked with different national and international media outlets.
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