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BCCI Announces Squads for South Africa Tour: A Comprehensive Overview
BCCI Announces Squads for South Africa Tour: A Comprehensive Overview
The excitement is building up as Team India gears up for a challenging tour of South Africa, scheduled to commence on December 10 and run until January 7, 2024. The tour includes a mix of T20 Internationals, ODI Internationals, and Test matches, with the anticipation of a thrilling series against South Africa.
Let’s delve into the squads announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the T20, ODI, and Test formats, highlighting key players and strategic decisions.
T20 International Squad:
Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
Vice Captain: Ravindra Jadeja
| Position | Player | Role | Captain | Vice Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batsman | Suryakumar Yadav | Ravindra Jadeja |
| 2 | Shubh Mangal Rituraj Gaikwad | Batsman | – | – |
| 3 | Tilak Verma | Batsman | – | – |
| 4 | Suryakumar Yadav | Batsman/All-Rounder | – | – |
| 5 | Rinku Singh | Batsman/All-Rounder | – | – |
| 6 | Shreyas Iyer | Batsman/All-Rounder | – | – |
| 7 | Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper/Batsman | – | – |
| 8 | Jitesh Sharma | Wicketkeeper | – | – |
| 9 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-Rounder | – | – |
| 10 | Washington Sundar | All-Rounder | – | – |
| 11 | Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler | – | – |
| 12 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler | – | – |
| 13 | Harshdeep Singh | Bowler | – | – |
| 14 | Mohammad Siraj | Bowler | – | – |
| 15 | Mukesh Kumar | Bowler | – | – |
| 16 | Deepak Chauhan | Bowler | – | – |
The T20 squad comprises 17 players, featuring the explosive batting talents of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubh Mangal Rituraj Gaikwad, and the captain himself, Suryakumar Yadav. Notable inclusions are Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper. The bowling department is bolstered by the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshdeep Singh, Mohammad Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Deepak Chauhan.
Interestingly, Rohit Sharma, a key figure in Indian cricket, is absent from the T20 squad, and Suryakumar Yadav assumes captaincy with Ravindra Jadeja as vice-captain.
ODI Squad:
Captain: KL Rahul
Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul
Second Wicketkeeper: Sanju Samson
| Position | Player | Role | Captain | Vice Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rituraj Gaikwad | Batsman | KL Rahul | – |
| 2 | Sudarshan Tilak Verma | Batsman | – | – |
| 3 | Rajat Patidar | Batsman | – | – |
| 4 | Rinku Singh | Batsman/All-Rounder | – | – |
| 5 | Shreyas Iyer | Batsman/All-Rounder | – | – |
| 6 | KL Rahul | Wicketkeeper/Batsman | KL Rahul | – |
| 7 | Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper/Batsman | – | – |
| 8 | Akshar Patel | All-Rounder | – | – |
| 9 | Washington Sundar | All-Rounder | – | – |
| 10 | Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler | – | – |
| 11 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Bowler | – | – |
| 12 | Mukesh Kumar | Bowler | – | – |
| 13 | Avesh Khan | Bowler | – | – |
| 14 | Arshdeep Singh | Bowler | – | – |
| 15 | Deepak Chahar | Bowler | – | – |
The ODI squad witnesses several changes post the recently concluded ODI World Cup. Notable inclusions are Rituraj Gaikwad, Sudarshan Tilak Verma, and Rajat Patidar. KL Rahul takes over the captaincy reins, and Sanju Samson, who was absent during the T20 focus year, makes a return.
Surprisingly, experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami are given a rest, reflecting a strategic decision by the selectors.
Test Squad:
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Vice Captain: Jasprit Bumrah
| Position | Player | Role | Captain | Vice Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | Batsman | Rohit Sharma | – |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | Batsman | – | – |
| 3 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batsman | – | – |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | Batsman | – | – |
| 5 | Shreyas Iyer | Batsman/All-Rounder | – | – |
| 6 | Rituraj Gaikwad | Batsman | – | – |
| 7 | Ishan Kishan | Batsman | – | – |
| 8 | KL Rahul (Wk) | Wicketkeeper/Batsman | – | – |
| 9 | Ravichandran Ashwin | All-Rounder | – | – |
| 10 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-Rounder | – | – |
| 11 | Shardul Thakur | Bowler | – | – |
| 12 | Mohammed Siraj | Bowler | – | – |
| 13 | Mukesh Kumar | Bowler | – | – |
| 14 | Mohammed Shami | Bowler | – | – |
| 15 | Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler | – | Jasprit Bumrah |
| 16 | Prasidh Krishna | Bowler | – | – |
The Test squad boasts a formidable lineup with the return of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and the inclusion of talented youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rituraj Gaikwad. KL Rahul dons the wicketkeeping gloves, and the squad features a strong bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah as vice-captain, along with the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
A notable mention is the absence of Mohammed Shami due to ongoing medical treatment, emphasizing the priority of player fitness in the selection process.
Overall Observations:
The selection of squads for the South Africa tour is marked by a blend of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters. The absence of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma in the T20 squad and Virat Kohli in the ODI squad reflects a strategic approach by the BCCI, possibly to provide rest and manage workloads ahead of the crucial T20 World Cup in Year 2.
The captaincy dynamics are intriguing, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the T20 side, KL Rahul taking charge in ODIs, and Rohit Sharma steering the Test team. The inclusion of Sanju Samson in the ODI squad after missing T20 competitions adds an interesting twist, emphasizing the dynamic nature of team selections.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the action-packed series, fans and pundits alike will closely monitor the performance of the chosen players and the strategic decisions made by the BCCI. The tour promises a thrilling spectacle, setting the stage for an eventful cricketing season ahead.
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