Captain Temba Bavuma Back for India Tests; David Bedingham Dropped from Squad

Cape Town: South Africa’s Test captain, Temba Bavuma, is set to return to the national side to lead the squad in the highly anticipated two-match Test series against India next month. Bavuma, who had been sidelined with a calf strain sustained during the England tour in September, has been confirmed as fit to reclaim the leadership role.

Bavuma had missed the start of South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) title defence against Pakistan due to the injury. While he will not participate in the white-ball matches starting this week in Pakistan, the captain will prove his match fitness by turning out for South Africa A in a first-class fixture against India A in Bengaluru before joining the senior Test squad.

Bavuma’s inclusion marks the only change to the batting lineup from the side that recently drew the series 1-1 against Pakistan. He replaces batter David Bedingham, who, despite having 15 Tests under his belt and recently scoring 82 against Zimbabwe, has been omitted from the squad. The inclusion of young talents like Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, and Zubayr Hamza meant there was no space for Bedingham this time.

The selectors have retained their faith in the spin department, naming three specialist spinners: Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy, all of whom impressed in Pakistan. However, off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who played the opening Test against Pakistan when Maharaj was injured, has been left out.

The pace attack is spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and includes Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen. Notably, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi misses out once again, having also been excluded from the Pakistan tour.

The two-match Test series will kick off the red-ball action of the tour. The First Test begins on December 14 in Kolkata, with the Second Test scheduled for December 22 in Guwahati. The full tour will also see South Africa play three ODIs and five T20Is against India.

South Africa Test Squad:

Temba Bavuma (c), Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Senuran Muthusamy, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder and Simon Harmer.