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[Saba Sports News] In a significant shake-up for South Africa’s cricket team, several key players will be absent in the upcoming series against India. Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje are notable omissions. However, Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj, named in all squads, will play prominent roles, with Markram stepping in as the ODI captain for the rested Temba Bavuma.
New faces like David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, and Mihlali Mpongwana are set to debut in the senior international squad. Tristan Stubbs, with his versatile batting skills, is another player to watch. De Kock, retired from Tests and ODIs, is taking a break from T20Is, aligning with South Africa’s strategy to retain him till the next T20 World Cup. Babar Azam’s absence from ODIs reflects a strategic rest period, while Rabada is being preserved for the India Tests. Nortje is recovering from a back injury, with a return anticipated around February-March.
Despite criticism over Bavuma’s World Cup performance, he remains the one-day skipper and is being rested to prepare for the Test matches. South Africa’s World Cup journey, though ending in a semifinal loss to Australia, exceeded expectations.
The recent Test selections, differing from the West Indies series, include Bedingham, Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne, under the guidance of Shukri Conrad. White-ball decisions are led by Rob Walter, who hints at potential T20 World Cup considerations for players like Faf du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw. The upcoming series, starting with a T20I against India, marks a new chapter for South African cricket, blending experienced players with new talent.