Rohit and Jadeja Included; Pujara, Shami, Rahane Excluded: Comprehensive Alterations in Indian Test Team Against SA from 2021-22 Series

 

The Indian cricket team is set to embark on a historic quest to win a Test series in South Africa, with Rohit Sharma and Temba Bavuma leading their respective sides in a two-match Test series beginning on Boxing Day (December 26) in Centurion.

This tour marks the second occasion in three years that India and South Africa face off in a Test series on South African soil. During the 2021–22 series, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but fell short of creating history as the home team managed to secure victories in the second and third matches.

In the captaincy department, there has been a significant change since the last tour, with Virat Kohli leading the team in the previous series. Notably, that tour marked Kohli’s final assignment as India’s Test captain. In the upcoming series, Jasprit Bumrah will serve as vice-captain, taking over from KL Rahul, who was the deputy in the previous series.

The Indian team has undergone a major transition in the past 23 months, witnessing the exclusion of several senior players, including Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav.

Rishabh Pant, a key member of the team two years ago, will be absent this time due to ongoing recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident last year. Additionally, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami will miss the tour due to injury.

Complete Changes in the Indian Test Squad for the South Africa Series from the 2021-22 Tour:
In:

• Rohit Sharma
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Shubman Gill
• Ruturaj Gaikwad (doubtful)
• Ravindra Jadeja
• KS Bharat
• Mukesh Kumar
• Prasidh Krishna

Out:

• Mayank Agarwal
• Priyank Panchal
• Cheteshwar Pujara
• Ajinkya Rahane
• Hanuma Vihari
• Rishabh Pant
• Wriddhiman Saha
• Jayant Yadav
• Ishant Sharma
• Umesh Yadav
• Mohammed Shami

Indian Team for South Africa Tour 2023-24:

• Rohit Sharma (C)
• Shubman Gill
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer
• Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Ishan Kishan (wk)
• KL Rahul (wk)
• Ravichandran Ashwin
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Shardul Thakur
• Mohd. Siraj
• Mukesh Kumar
• Mohd. Shami
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Prasidh Krishna

Indian Test Team for South Africa Tour 2021-22:

• Virat Kohli (Captain)
• KL Rahul (Vice-captain)
• Priyank Panchal
• Mayank Agarwal
• Cheteshwar Pujara
• Ajinkya Rahane
• Shreyas Iyer
• Hanuma Vihari
• Rishabh Pant (wk)
• Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
• R Ashwin
• Jayant Yadav
• Ishant Sharma
• Mohd. Shami
• Umesh Yadav
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Shardul Thakur
• Md. Siraj.