by The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced two separate squads for the upcoming four-day matches against South Africa A.
Rishabh Pant will captain both teams in the series scheduled at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
The Senior Men’s Selection Committee picked different players for each match, giving opportunities to a mix of experienced and emerging talent.
The two matches will be played from October 30 to November 2 and November 6 to 9.
India A squad Announced For Four-Day Matches Against South Africa A
Rishabh Pant Returns as Captain in India A Team
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named captain for both four-day matches after his successful comeback to international cricket.
Sai Sudharsan will serve as vice-captain in both games.
The selectors have split the squads to manage workload and give more players a chance to prove themselves ahead of senior team selection.
First Match Squad
The opening game features several young players looking to make an impression at the India A level.
Ayush Mhatre, who has been performing well in domestic cricket, gets a call-up alongside experienced names like Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal.
Squad for Match 1 (Oct 30 – Nov 2):
- Captain: Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Vice-Captain: Sai Sudharsan
- Batters: Ayush Mhatre, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Ayush Badoni
- Wicketkeeper: N Jagdeesan
- Spinners: Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain
- Pacers: Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur
Second Match Squad
The second four-day game brings in bigger names with KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Mohammed Siraj joining the squad.
Senior pros Abhimanyu Easwaran and Prasidh Krishna have also been included, making this a stronger lineup overall.
Dhruv Jurel comes in as the backup wicketkeeper for this match.
Squad for Match 2 (Nov 6 – Nov 9):
- Captain: Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Vice-Captain: Sai Sudharsan
- Batters: KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Wicketkeeper: Dhruv Jurel
- Spinners: Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar
- Pacers: Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Key Players to Watch
KL Rahul’s inclusion in the second match is significant as he continues his return to red-ball cricket after injury concerns.
Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep will lead the pace attack in the second game, giving India A serious firepower.
Young spinners Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, and Manav Suthar feature in both squads, highlighting their importance in the spin department.
Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan are the only batters selected for both matches, showing the selectors’ faith in them.
Match Schedule
Both four-day matches will be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru with a 9:30 AM start time.
| Match | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Four-Day Match | Oct 30 – Nov 2 | BCCI COE, Bengaluru |
| 2nd Four-Day Match | Nov 6 – Nov 9 | BCCI COE, Bengaluru |
Preparation for Senior Team
The India A series serves as crucial preparation for players hoping to break into the senior squad.
With the Test season approaching, performances in these matches could determine who gets selected for upcoming international assignments.
The selectors have clearly used this opportunity to test bench strength and assess form across different combinations.
BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the squads in an official media advisory released on October 21.
The South Africa A tour provides valuable match practice in red-ball conditions and allows fringe players to stake their claim for higher honors.
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