New Faces in India’s T20I Squad for South Africa Tour
India has announced the T20I squad for the upcoming four-match series against South Africa, beginning November 8 in Durban. The squad features some fresh names, including Ramandeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal, all of whom are seeking to make an impact on the international stage.
Ramandeep Singh, a middle-order batsman known for his explosive end-over performances, has earned his first call-up. His contributions were pivotal to the Kolkata Knight Riders’ success in the IPL 2024, where they clinched the title. Despite limited opportunities, he made his presence felt, scoring 125 runs off just 62 balls, maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 201.61. Ramandeep also offers versatility with his medium-pace bowling and outstanding fielding skills, showcased during a viral catch he took at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman.
Joining him is Karnataka’s pace bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak, who has been on the national selectors’ radar for a while. Vyshak has been among the emerging players rewarded with a fast-bowling contract by the BCCI, thanks to his impressive performances in white-ball cricket, coupled with his recent red-ball achievements. His ability to execute pace variations effectively adds another layer to his bowling. He recently grabbed attention in the Duleep Trophy, where he secured 10 wickets at an average of 24.90.
Yash Dayal, the left-arm quick who has been part of India’s Test squad without yet making his debut, also makes it into the squad. Initially slated to join the India A team for the shadow tour coinciding with the senior team’s trip to Australia, Dayal has instead been drafted for the South African series. His spot in the India A side has been taken over by Prasidh Krishna, who is also part of the senior Test team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The squad is without three notable players due to injuries. Allrounder Riyan Parag is in the process of rehabilitating from a chronic shoulder injury. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who debuted for India in T20Is against Bangladesh earlier in the year, remains sidelined by persistent injuries, including an abdominal issue that kept him out of the IPL 2024 season. Meanwhile, allrounder Shivam Dube’s unavailability continues due to a recurring injury, though details remain unspecified.
Tilak Varma, who stepped in for Dube during the T20Is against Bangladesh, retains his place in the squad. Avesh Khan and spin-bowling allrounder Axar Patel also return to the team. Axar was rested from the Bangladesh series but now replaces Washington Sundar, who has been included in India’s Test squad instead. Sundar has risen above Axar in the pecking order for Test cricket, but Axar remains a key figure in limited-overs cricket.
The squad has some notable absentees, particularly with the T20I series overlapping the Test tour of Australia. Several multi-format players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah, along with the injured Kuldeep Yadav, are not included. Harshit Rana and allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, both selected for the Australia tour, will also miss out on this T20I series.
The four-match T20I series will see India play in Durban on November 8, followed by games in Gqeberha (November 10), Centurion (November 13), and Johannesburg (November 15). The squad aims to utilize this opportunity to test young talent and build depth ahead of future tournaments, with players like Ramandeep, Vyshak, and Dayal eager to seize the opportunity.
India’s T20I squad for the South Africa tour includes: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, and Yash Dayal.