As the excitement builds for the upcoming all-format tour of South Africa, slated to commence on December 10, 2023, India has unveiled its star-studded squads, revealing strategic decisions and welcoming the return of seasoned players.
In the absence of key regulars, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul has been appointed as the captain of the ODI squad. This decision aligns with the team’s calculated approach to managing player workload and providing essential rest to key contributors during specific phases of the tour.
For the longer format, India witnesses the return of experienced players such as KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah, marking their comeback to Test cricket. Rohit Sharma will resume his role as captain for the Test matches, alongside Virat Kohli, both opting for a break from the white-ball segment of the tour.
India’s T20I Squad (3 Matches):
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Shubman Gill
• Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Tilak Varma
• Suryakumar Yadav (C)
• Rinku Singh
• Shreyas Iyer
• Ishan Kishan (wk)
• Jitesh Sharma (wk)
• Ravindra Jadeja (VC)
• Washington Sundar
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Arshdeep Singh
• Mohd. Siraj
• Mukesh Kumar
• Deepak Chahar
India’s ODI Squad (3 Matches):
• Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Sai Sudharsan
• Tilak Varma
• Rajat Patidar
• Rinku Singh
• Shreyas Iyer
• KL Rahul (C)(wk)
• Sanju Samson (wk)
• Axar Patel
• Washington Sundar
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Yuzvendra Chahal
• Mukesh Kumar
• Avesh Khan
• Arshdeep Singh
• Deepak Chahar
India’s Test Squad:
• Rohit Sharma (C)
• Shubman Gill
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer
• Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Ishan Kishan (wk)
• KL Rahul (wk)
• Ravichandran Ashwin
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Shardul Thakur
• Mohd. Siraj
• Mukesh Kumar
• Mohd. Shami (subject to fitness)
• Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
• Prasidh Krishna
The return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer to the Test squad has led to the exclusion of red-ball stalwarts Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, who played crucial roles in India’s XI during the World Test Championship Final against Australia in June.
Mohammed Shami’s comeback to the Test side is subject to fitness, as he is currently undergoing medical treatment. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mukesh Kumar, who made their Test debut during the West Indies tour, retain their spots in the squad, underscoring the team’s commitment to nurturing emerging talents.
Indian cricket enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the action-packed tour, as the team faces formidable challenges across all formats against the Proteas in South Africa. The tour promises thrilling cricket moments and exciting matchups as India seeks to assert its dominance on the international stage.