LET’S DEFEND OUR CROWN: Squads announced for SAvIND T20Is and BGT

There’s absolutely no stoppage in cricketing action for the ICT fans as the SAvIND T20I series is all set to commence shortly after the conclusion of the ongoing INDvNZ Tests followed by the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

India tour of South Africa 2024 squad

The upcoming four-match T20I series, scheduled to begin on November 8, will see a handful of new faces in the Suryakumar Yadav-led side, gunning to make their mark on the international stage.

Pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak and our former star Ramandeep Singh have received their maiden senior team call-ups, with the latter impressing the selectors thanks to his all-round performances in the ACC T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024.

Sanju Samson and Varun Chakaravarthy, who finished as the leading run-getter and wicket-taker, respectively, in the recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh, will look to extend their fine run of form.

However, the trio of Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube and Mayank Yadav will miss out on the flight to South Africa owing to injuries.

India’s squad for four T2OIs against South Africa: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 squad

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team, with aamcha RO at the helm, will be aiming to win the BGT for the fifth successive time when they take on the Aussies at their home.

Boom Boom will continue to deputise our Hitman for the second series running.

Unfortunately, Mohammad Shami, who was expected to be fit in time, is ruled out due to an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since the ODI World Cup last year. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav too misses out courtesy of a groin injury.

Moreover, three uncapped players, namely Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhimanyu Easwaran will travel Down Under as a part of the 18-member crew.

All-rounder Washington Sundar, who took 11 wickets in the second game of the INDvNZ series, marked his return to the Test team with a bang and is deservingly rewarded a place in the BGT squad.

India’s squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.