On Wednesday, October 22, the BCCI announced India A’s squad for the upcoming red-ball games against South Africa A. These A tour matches will be played ahead of the Proteas’ Test tour of India, with both encounters scheduled at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The series will commence on Thursday, October 30, with Rishabh Pant making a long-awaited return to the field—a major headline for fans and selectors alike.
### India A Squad for the 1st Four-Day Match vs South Africa A:
– Rishabh Pant (c) (wk)
– Ayush Mhatre
– N Jagdeesan (wk)
– Sai Sudharsan (vc)
– Devdutt Padikkal
– Rajat Patidar
– Harsh Dubey
– Tanush Kotian
– Manav Suthar
– Anshul Kamboj
– Yash Thakur
– Ayush Badoni
– Saransh Jain
### India A Squad for the 2nd Four-Day Match vs South Africa A:
– Rishabh Pant (c) (wk)
– KL Rahul
– Dhruv Jurel (wk)
– Sai Sudharsan (vc)
– Devdutt Padikkal
– Ruturaj Gaikwad
– Harsh Dubey
– Tanush Kotian
– Manav Suthar
– Khaleel Ahmed
– Gurnoor Brar
– Abhimanyu Easwaran
– Prasidh Krishna
– Mohammed Siraj
– Akash Deep
The selectors haven’t revealed much about their thought process in selecting the squads, as no press conference was held. However, several interesting signs emerge when analyzing the team composition. Here are three clear indications from India A’s squad for these red-ball matches against South Africa A.
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### #3 Sai Sudharsan Appointed Vice-Captain Ahead of Other Names
Names such as Rajat Patidar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Dhruv Jurel have often been in the mix for captaincy roles in A teams and Duleep Trophy squads. Despite this, the selectors have named Sai Sudharsan as Rishabh Pant’s deputy for this series.
One possible reason could be that Patidar, Gaikwad, and Jurel are not playing both contests, which influenced the decision. Nonetheless, having different vice-captains in recent similar series suggests the selectors are exploring new leadership options. Sai Sudharsan is known for his calm demeanor and despite limited top-level leadership experience, appointing him as vice-captain appears to be a positive step forward.
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### #2 The Thinness of India’s Red-Ball Contingent Is Evident
Ayush Mhatre has been picked as one of India A’s openers for the first match against South Africa A. While Mhatre is a talented youngster who has played notable innings in the Ranji Trophy, his place in the A team at this stage is debatable. His recent white-ball performances for the U19s have been disappointing; although he has fared better in red-ball cricket, he still needs substantial development. Additionally, Mhatre’s technique, particularly his foot movement, could benefit from more experience at lower levels.
On the bowling front, India A have selected only two pacers for the first match—Yash Thakur and Anshul Kamboj. Neither name inspires immediate confidence, highlighting how thin India’s fast-bowling resources currently are. The struggles in both the opening batting and pace-bowling departments clearly indicate significant room for improvement.
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### #1 Rishabh Pant Is Back!
Last seen during India’s fourth Test against England, Rishabh Pant looks set to make an international comeback during the upcoming home Test series against South Africa. Before that, he will lead India A in these two red-ball matches.
Pant was long considered one of India’s frontline options for Test captaincy; however, that mantle has since passed to Shubman Gill. Still, having Pant involved in the leadership setup is a positive for the senior team, especially after the recent departures of influential leaders like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
More importantly, reports of a slow-foot injury recovery appear to be behind Pant. His inclusion in both matches signals that his foot has healed sufficiently, and he has made a convincing comeback.
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As the series approaches, all eyes will be on India A’s young talents and returning senior players alike. This set of games not only offers a glimpse of India’s red-ball future but also prepares the squad for the challenging Test series against South Africa.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/3-clear-indications-india-a-s-squad-red-ball-matches-south-africa-a-ft-rishabh-pant
