India vs South Africa: Shahbaz Nadeem added to India squad for Ranchi Test

Team India will be looking to continue their winning run in the ongoing Test series when they take on South Africa in the third and final game in Ranchi. The hosts have already sealed the three-match series after winning the first two Tests comprehensively. In the second Test, the Virat Kohli-led side thrashed the Proteas by an innings and 137 runs to register their biggest win over the visitors.

India have rarely looked in trouble in the ongoing series. The world number one side was at its dominating best in the second game. After an unbeaten double ton from Kohli and century from Mayank Agarwal propelled India to a mammoth 601 for 5 (declared), the bowlers made light work of the Proteas. They bowled out the visitors for just 275 and 189 in the two innings.

Forced change to the squad

Team India, meanwhile, had to add Jharkhand spinner Shahbaz Nadeem to their squad after Kuldeep Yadav complained of left shoulder pain. The change, however, is unlikely to affect India’s plan since Kuldeep is not a regular part of the playing eleven in Tests. The chinaman spinner has not played a Test since the Sydney Test in January this year.

On the friendly tracks, India have opted their tried and tested pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. As expected, both the spinners have delivered and thus one cannot see Nadeem making his Test debut. This is Nadeem’s first call from India’s Test team. He had earned his maiden international call-up last year for the home T20I series against West Indies. However, he is yet to make his international debut.

He is one of the most consistent performers in the domestic circuit and is also a regular member of India A squads. He had an impressive tour of West Indies with India A where he picked up 15 wickets in two unofficial Tests. Nadeem took five wicket-hauls in both the innings of the first game to help India A win the match. He followed it up with another five-wicket haul in the third game after missing the second one due to a fever.

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