The BCCI on Sunday announced India’s ODI and T20I squads for the ongoing South Africa tour, confirming KL Rahul as captain for the three-match 50-over series after regular skipper Shubman Gill was ruled out with a neck injury sustained during the Kolkata Test. The setback has also forced Gill out of the second Test in Guwahati, where Rishabh Pant has stepped in as stand-in captain.
In a largely continuity-driven selection, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retained their spots following their strong returns against Australia, while pace leader Jasprit Bumrah has been rested as part of workload management. Pant has been named vice-captain for the ODI leg, with Ruturaj Gaikwad also included to bolster India’s top-order options.
India will welcome back Ravindra Jadeja, who returns to the ODI setup after missing the Australia series, offering Rahul a seasoned all-round presence in the middle. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel, fresh off the two-Test assignment in South Africa, have also been given time off to manage fatigue.
The ODI series begins on November 30 in Ranchi, moves to Raipur on December 3, and concludes in Visakhapatnam on December 6, setting the stage for a demanding white-ball run.
Immediately after, India shift focus to a five-match T20I series, starting in Cuttack on December 9. The caravan then heads to New Chandigarh (Dec 11), Dharamsala (Dec 14), Lucknow (Dec 17), and wraps up in Ahmedabad on December 19.
With Gill unavailable and major players being rotated, the tour offers Rahul a valuable leadership window and gives India a chance to test depth across formats ahead of a crucial year in international cricket.
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