South Africa has revealed its squads for the upcoming home series against India, commencing on December 10. Aiden Markram is set to lead the team in the T20I and ODI series, while regular skipper Temba Bavuma and pacer Kagiso Rabada will return for the Test series. Notably, Bavuma will solely feature in the Test matches.
Several new faces make their entry into the Test squad, including Tristian Stubbs, David Bedingham, and Nandre Burger. However, the exclusion of Heinrich Klassen comes as a surprise. Cricket South Africa emphasized the significance of the Test series, leading to the omission of Bavuma and Rabada from the white-ball leg.
Aiden Markram will captain the team in the absence of Bavuma for the white-ball fixtures. Pacers Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi are excluded from the ODIs, reflecting the lower priority of the format after the culmination of the 50-over World Cup.
The focus of both India and South Africa is on the new World Test Championships cycle, beginning with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion on December 26. Anrich Nortje, sidelined from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, is not part of any squad, and his return timeline remains uncertain.
