Temba Bavuma has been appointed as the skipper of South Africa’s team for the upcoming two World Test Championship matches in India. Bavuma, who led South Africa to victory in the championship final against Australia in London earlier, missed the recent series in Pakistan due to a calf strain.
During his absence, Aiden Markram led the South African team in the two-match series in Pakistan. Bavuma has previously captained South Africa in ten Tests, winning nine and drawing one.
The squad announced by Cricket South Africa comprises mostly the same players who featured in the Pakistan series. Notably, off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen was excluded despite filling in for the injured Keshav Maharaj in the first Test.
David Bedingham, who was part of the Pakistan tour but did not play in the Tests, made way for Bavuma in the squad. The 15-man team includes three primary spinners – Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy, who collectively secured 33 wickets in Pakistan.
Coach Shukri Conrad commended the team’s resilience in Pakistan, where they shared honors after losing the first Test. Looking ahead to the India tour, Conrad anticipates a similar challenge and emphasizes the importance of every player contributing to maintain competitiveness.
The South Africa squad for the India tour comprises players like Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne as the wicketkeeper alongside the mentioned captain and spinners.