India has announced a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on November 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Shubman Gill will lead the team, with Rishabh Pant returning as vice-captain after recovering from a foot injury. The wicketkeeper-batter's comeback means Dhruv Jurel will likely serve as backup despite his impressive recent performances, including a maiden Test century against the West Indies in Ahmedabad. The opening pair features Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, while Sai Sudharsan has been entrusted with the number three position. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy returns after leaving the Australia tour mid-way, now fully fit. The pace attack includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep. The series will conclude at the ACA Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, marking the venue's debut as India's newest Test ground.
Squad Composition and Key Selections
The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, has named Shubman Gill as captain with Rishabh Pant serving as vice-captain. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will open, followed by Sai Sudharsan at number three. Karnataka's Devdutt Padikkal returns as a backup batting option, having played only a couple of Tests since his March 2024 debut. However, Abhimanyu Easwaran, who warmed the bench for over two years, has been left out. The spin department includes Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, while Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna are absent. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who left the Australia tour earlier, returns fully fit.
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