The BCCI has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will be India’s full-time ODI captain on and from South Africa tour. He will also replace Ajinkya Rahane for the vice-captain role in the Test squad. Last month, Rohit had taken over from Virat Kohli as the full-time T20I captain after the latter stepped down from the post at the end of the T20 World Cup.
Rohit, K.L. Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who were not part of the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand, returned to the 18-member squad for India's three-match Test series in South Africa. Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Deepak Chahar and Arzan Nagwaswalla have been added as standby options.
Riding on his impressive form for India A in South Africa, Hanuma Vihari has made the cut as well. Jayant Yadav got a chance as well, following the injuries of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. An injury ruled Shubman Gill out as well.
The Test series will begin on 26 December, at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. The squad for the ODIs, which will begin on 19 January, will be announced later.
India’s Test squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, K.L. Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, R. Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Md. Siraj.
Standby Players: Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Arzan Nagwaswalla.