Team India Test squad for the tour of South Africa announced
Team India announced an 18-member squad for the 3 match Test series against South Africa. The team will be led by Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma being named the new Test vice-captain. Sharma has also been handed over the ODI captaincy reigns.
However the former vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane held on to his place in the Test squad along woth Cheteshwar Pujara. Shreyas Iyer keeps his Test spot as Hanuma Vihari who had a prolific A-tour of South Africa made it to the squad of 18.
Pace battery will be operated by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami who missed the home series against New Zealand along with Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur.
Injured all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja made way to Jayant Yadav to retain his spot.
Shubman Gill’s fitness concerns meant he will miss the tour. The opening choices are Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.
Team India Test Squad:
Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed. Siraj
The tour was recently pushed back by a few days due to the threat posed by the new Covid-19 variant. India will now open the tour with the Boxing Day Test on December 26 which will be followed by two more Tests and three ODIs. The four-match T20I series has been scrapped with the boards announcing that it will be played at a later date.
