India Announce T20I Squad for South Africa Series, Ramandeep Singh and Vijaykumar Vyshak Earn Maiden Call-ups
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming four-match T20I series against South Africa, which commences on November 8 in Durban. The squad features two notable inclusions: middle-order batter Ramandeep Singh and fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak, who have earned their maiden India call-ups.
Ramandeep Singh, a 24-year-old right-handed batter, has been in impressive form for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has consistently scored runs at a high strike rate, showcasing his ability to accelerate the innings in the middle overs.
Vijaykumar Vyshak, a 23-year-old right-arm fast bowler, has also caught the attention of selectors with his performances for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket. He has impressed with his pace and accuracy, consistently troubling batters with his ability to swing the ball both ways.
However, the squad also includes three notable absentees due to injuries. Batting allrounder Riyan Parag is undergoing rehabilitation for a chronic right shoulder injury, while fast bowler Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling allrounder Shivam Dube are also unavailable due to unspecified injuries.
Mayank Yadav, who made his international debut during the recent home T20Is against Bangladesh, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He missed the entire IPL 2024 season due to an abdominal muscle issue, which has raised concerns about his long-term fitness.
The Indian squad for the T20I series against South Africa is as follows:
* Suryakumar Yadav (capt)
* Abhishek Sharma
* Sanju Samson (wk)
* Rinku Singh
* Tilak Varma
* Jitesh Sharma (wk)
* Hardik Pandya
* Axar Patel
* Ramandeep Singh
* Varun Chakaravarthy
* Ravi Bishnoi
* Arshdeep Singh
* Vijaykumar Vyshak
* Avesh Khan
* Yash Dayal
The series against South Africa will be a crucial test for India as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The team will be looking to build momentum and fine-tune their combinations ahead of the global tournament.
