India vs South Africa: CSA announce Test and T20I squads for the tour

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the Proteas Test and T20 International squads for their upcoming tour of India. South Africa will be travelling to Asia to play three T20Is and as many Test matches against the Virat Kohli-led side. Quinton de Kock has been appointed the captain in the shortest format with Faf du Plessis not being part of the side. Rassie van der Dussen is named the vice-captain of the T20 team.

CSA has picked the T20I squad keeping in mind the World Cup next year which will be played in Australia. It is still not clear though if Faf du Plessis who was the skipper earlier is in the plans for the mega event. Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje and Bjorn Fortuin are the three newcomers and are expected to feature at some stage during the T20Is. South Africa’s India tour will begin on September 15 with the first T20 to be played in Dharamsala.

The other two matches of the series are scheduled to be played on September 18 and 22 in Mohali and Bengaluru respectively.

Three uncapped players in Test squad as well

Faf du Plessis continues to lead South Africa in the whites while Temba Bavuma has been named deputy to him. Nortje, Senuran Muthusamy and Rudi Second are the three uncapped players to make it to the team in the longest format of the game. With spin expected to play a key role, the visitors have named three spinners in the 15-man squad. Keshav Maharaj will lead the attack with Muthusamy and Dane Piedt up his sleeve.

South Africa will miss Hashim Amla‘s experience on this tough tour who announced his international retirement last week. Aiden Markram looks set to open the innings alongside Dean Elgar. Elgar is another option for the Proteas in the spin department who can be more than handy with the ball at times. Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Nortje, Lungi Ngidi form the pace attack.

The Test series will commence on October 2 in Visakhapatnam with the remaining two matches set to be played in Ranchi and Pune respectively.

South Africa T20I squad:  Quinton de Kock (C), Rassie van der Dussen (VC), Temba Bavuma , Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi & Jon-Jon Smut.

South Africa Test squad: Faf du Plessis (C), Temba Bavuma (VC), Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada & Rudi Second.