BCCI, on October 25, 2024, announced the Indian team squad for the four-T20I tour of South Africa next month. The 15-member squad will engage in the T20I series that starts on November 8.
Suryakumar Yadav will continue as captain of the Indian team, while regulars Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson, who had an excellent outing in the 3rd T20I against Bangladesh, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh have been picked.
The squad has three notable absentees, all due to injury. Batting allrounder Riyan Parag is undergoing rehabilitation for what the BCCI's squad announcement termed a "chronic right shoulder injury".
Fast bowler Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling allrounder Shivam Dube were also unavailable due to unspecified injuries.
Middle-order batter Ramandeep Singh fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak and pacer Yash Dayal have earned their maiden India T20I call-up. Ramandeep impressed with his finishing act for KKR in IPL 2024, scoring 125 runs in 62 balls he faced. He is also a handy medium pacer and an excellent fielder.
Karnataka and Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Vyshak was handed the fast bowling contract by BCCI recently and has been on the radar of the Indian cricket board.
Tilak Varma keeps his place in the Indian squad, while Avesh Khan and Akshar Patel, who missed the flight to the Australia tour, have been included as well. Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi are the two other spinners in the Indian squad.
India is scheduled to play four T20Is in South Africa, in Durban (November 8), Gqeberha (November 10), Centurion (November 13), and Johannesburg (November 15).
India squad for T20Is against South Africa:
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
(BCCI inputs)
