The BCCI will be announcing India’s squad for the South Africa tour any time soon. India will be touring the country to play three Tests and three ODIs between December 26-January 23. Cricket South Africa has given a green signal for the tour amid concerns of a new COVID variant threatening to postpone the tour.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed on Monday (December 6) that the Wanderers will host the New Year’s Test against India, starting on January 3 as they have announced the revised schedule. The tour will begin with the Boxing Day Test that is set to play at SuperSport Park in Centurion whereas Cape Town to host the third and final Test starting on January 11 as well. Notably, the series will be a part of the World Test Championship.
After the end of the Test series, both teams will take on each other in two ODIs on January 19 and 21 in Paarl and 23 in Cape Town respectively as well.
South Africa vs India 2021-22 – Schedule
1st Test – Dec 26-30 – Centurion
2nd Test – Jan 03-07 – Johannesburg
3rd Test – Jan 11-15 – Cape Town
1st ODI – Jan 19 – Paarl
2nd ODI – Jan 21 – Paarl
3rd ODI – Jan 23 – Cape Town
In this article, we will take a look at three players from India A who can make it to the Indian squad for the series. India A played three warm-up games against South Africa with some players pulling out notable performances.
3 India A Players Who Can Be Considered For Selection
Hanuma Vihari
Vihari was dropped from the New Zealand test squad and was later added in India A squad for the warm-up Tests against South Africa. He scored 151 from the two matches he played with two fifty-plus scores. Cricket experts were surprised that he was dropped from the New Zealand Test squad after consistent performances in the Australia series.
However, they later welcomed his return to India A squad for the tour. He is currently in South Africa having a fair idea of the playing conditions having played the games. With Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara struggling with form, Vihari with his ability to hold one end up can be an ideal replacement for both the players in the squad.
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Abhimanyu Easwaran has proved his mettle playing for Bengal in domestic cricket. He was also a part of India A squad that travelled to South Africa. The right-hander scored 158 from the two games with hundred to his name. He has been travelleing with various India A squads to different parts of the world and it is high time that the 26-year-old gets his chance for India in Test cricket.
Navdeep Saini
With India requiring an out and out pacer in the pace-friendly conditions in South Africa, Saini can be included in the Test squad for the series as well. He was a part of the Indian squad that won the memorable Test series on Australian soil.
He made his Test debut earlier this year in Melbourne and played the famous Gabba Test which Indian won and won the series.
The above-mentioned players can certainly be in contention to be added to the India squad for the Test series as and when it is announced.
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