Temba Bavuma sits for India white-ball series
|| CF DESK ||
South Africa has opted to rest captain Temba Bavuma for their upcoming home white-ball series against India this month following a disappointing Cricket World Cup.
Despite this, Bavuma will resume his role as captain for the two-test series starting on December 26.
Bavuma acknowledged that he wasn't at his peak fitness during South Africa's World Cup campaign, which ended with a three-wicket loss to eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals.
Aiden Markram will take on the captaincy for both the T20Is and One Day International (ODI) sides against India, potentially indicating a dual role that could extend into the future.
Quinton de Kock, who retired from ODIs after the World Cup, remains available for T20s but will skip this series to play for the Melbourne Renegades in Australia's Big Bash competition.
The Test squad welcomes newcomers David Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs as batters, along with fast bowler Nandre Burger, who features across all three formats.
Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder make comebacks for the test and ODI series, while premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will be rested from the limited-overs games to focus on domestic four-day cricket in preparation for the test matches.
Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen will also miss the ODIs for the same reason, prioritizing their readiness for the longer format of the game.
India’s tour will start with three T20 matches in Durban, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg from Dec. 10-14. They will then switch format for three ODIs between Dec. 17-21, played in the latter two venues and Paarl.
The first test will start on Dec. 26 in Pretoria, with the second on Jan. 3 at Newlands in Cape Town.
T20 squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs and Lizaad Williams.
ODI squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad Williams.
Test squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.