Pant returns for India's Tests against South Africa

India have picked a strong unit for the two-match Test series against South Africa as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

Shubman Gill will lead the side, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant named as vice-captain, marking his return to Test cricket after injury.

India’s Test squad:

Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, *Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep

*Second Test Only

Pant was ruled out of the fifth Test of the England series due to a foot injury and eventually didn't play the two-Test series against the West Indies as well.

Even as Pant replaces N Jagadeesan, the series also sees the return of pacer Akash Deep in the place of Prasidh Krishna, who was a part of the squad against the West Indies.

Alongside established stars such as Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, the selectors have included promising names like Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was initially named in the squad for both the Test matches, has been released ahead of the first Test. The all-rounder will instead join the India A team for the one-day series against South Africa A in Rajkot. He will rejoin the main squad for the second Test in Guwahati.

India began the current WTC cycle against England 2-2 away from home, and clean swept the West Indies last month in a two-match Test series at home.

The first match of the South Africa series is scheduled to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 14 followed by the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati from November 22.

India v South Africa Test series schedule:

First Test - 14 to 18 November, Kolkata

Second Test - 22 to 26 November, Guwahati