The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to X on Sunday (November 23) to announce India’s squad for the three-match series against South Africa, which is set to start on November 30 in Ranchi.
In the absence of captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was appointed as India’s skipper. Rishabh Pant, who is leading India in the ongoing second Test against the Proteas at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, was also reportedly in line to get the leadership, but he was ignored by the selectors.
Hours after India’s squad was announced by the selectors via a tweet, a BCCI source, while speaking to PTI, revealed the reason for the selectors ignoring Pant.
According to him, the 28-year-old cricketer from Delhi, who has also led India in five T20I matches in the past, was not considered because he has only played one 50-over match for the Men in Blue in the last one year.
He revealed that Rahul has been given the captaincy with the short-term goal of the South Africa series in mind.
“Rahul’s captaincy is a one-off and should be seen in isolation. Rishabh (Pant) wasn’t considered, as he has played only one ODI game in the last one year. The selectors expect that Shubman Gill’s neck injury will heal and he will be back against New Zealand (3 ODIs in January 2026),” a BCCI source told PTI.
Gaikwad returns
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was in red-hot form for India A in the recently concluded three-match unofficial ODI series against South Africa A. The Maharashtra-based cricketer scored a century in the first match and a half-century in the second. His two good performances with the bat helped him catch the selector’s attention, and in the absence of Gill, he was added to India’s squad. It will, however, be interesting to see if he manages to pip Yashasvi Jaiswal for a place in the playing XI as an opening batter.
In addition to Gaikwad, Tilak Varma has also earned his place back in India’s ODI team. He is likely to replace Shreyas Iyer as a No. 4 batter in the upcoming three matches in front of Indian fans.
