Wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen is hoping to make his Test debut for South Africa this October after being picked in the squad for a gruelling three-match Test series on the Indian shores. 

Klaasen, who has played 14 ODIs and 9 T20Is so far, got the nod in Proteas' red-ball squad as a replacement for injured Rudi Second. 

The 28-year-old is also preparing for the challenge nicely with ongoing South Africa 'A' tour of India which culminates just prior to the start of the T20I series against the hosts from September 15, though Klaasen hasn't been selected for that. 

The Pretoria-born cricketer wishes to claim one of the Test middle-order slots after retirements of greats like AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. 

"The retirements have opened up a few places in the middle order. There is healthy competition, but I am not too worried. I will do the best I can in the one-dayers against India A and hopefully find a place in the Test team," said Klaasen, who was going through a poor run of form before finally regaining the lost mojo with runs in the Global T20 Canada 2019. 

"The last one year was really tough for me. I was in and out of the team and my form wasn't great. I wasn't enjoying the game."

"Being to Canada, I had a couple of big conversations with some big players involved there and suddenly I started loving the game again."

"Now I am not worried about selection or where I play and what I play. As long as I am enjoying the game I am playing at this level I am happy," he added. 

The Test series begins on October 2 with the first game in Visakhapatnam. 

(Inputs from CricketNext)