The Indian cricket team was greeted with a rousing reception as the players and the members of the support staff arrived in Durban on Thursday ahead of their T20I series against South Africa. The 3-match series will mark the start of a full-fledged tour which will also have 3 ODIs and the much-anticipated 2-Test series.
India players, led by stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav, left for South Africa on Wednesday and reached Durban on Thursday. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video of the players leaving the country and landing in Durban. As it turned out, the players were greeted by rain with a few players using their suitcases as cover while scampering toward the team bus.
As they reached the team hotel in Durban, there was a traditional welcome for the players and the members of the support staff. The hotel staff were seen welcoming the players with a lot of enthusiasm.
“Welcome to South Africa,” captain Suryakumar Yadav said in the video.
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opting for rest from the white-ball series, India have picked a squad with a good mix of youth and experience. Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side in the 3-match series.
Suryakumar was appointed as India’s captain for the first time during the recently concluded T20I series against Australia at home. Hardik Pandya, who led India in 11 T20Is in 2023, is out on the sidelines with an ankle injury he suffered during the ODI World Cup. Suryakumar did not disappoint as he impressed quite a few with his leadership in India’s 4-1 series win.
Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja are the 4 players who are returning to the squad after missing the Australia series at home due to a break following the World Cup.
Jadeja returns to the T20I set-up for the first time in over an year and he has been named the vice-captain.
India will be led by KL Rahul in ODIs while Rohit Sharma, who will return to action for the first time since the World Cup, will lead the Test side.
India’s squad for 3 T20Is: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar.
SA vs IND, T20I series Schedule
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India’s tour of South Africa, T20Is |
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Day |
Date |
Match |
Venue |
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Sunday |
10-Dec-23 |
1st T20I |
Durban |
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Tuesday |
12-Dec-23 |
2nd T20I |
Gqeberha |
|
Thursday |
14-Dec-23 |
3rd T20I |
Johannesburg |
