South Africa announced Test squad for India tour:Temba Bavuma returns to lead Proteas for two Test matches; series begins on November 14 in Kolkata

South Africa have announced their squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against India, with captain Temba Bavuma making his return after recovering from injury. The series will begin in Kolkata on November 14, followed by the second Test in Guwahati from November 22. Bavuma had been out of action since sustaining an injury during the England tour in September. As a result, he missed the recent Test series against Pakistan in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He will also skip South Africa’s white-ball matches in Pakistan this week as he continues to manage his workload. The selectors have largely kept faith in the team that played against Pakistan, with Bavuma returning in place of David Bedingham. This continuity, according to the team management, is aimed at building stability and confidence within the squad as they face the challenge of Indian conditions. Also read: Shreyas Iyer admitted to ICU in Sydney with internal bleeding: India vice-captain had sustained rib injury during third ODI vs Australia Shukri Conrad confident ahead of India tour Speaking about the squad announcement, South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform in India. “We have retained most of the players who played in the two-match series against Pakistan. Those players showed real character and worked hard to come forward and draw that series,” Conrad said. The coach acknowledged that playing in India will be a demanding task but believes his players are ready for the test. “We are expecting similar challenges in India as well, and many players who perform well in those conditions will once again be important for us,” he added further. Also read: ‘Deserved better than this’- Karun Nair lashes out at Agarkar: Batter expresses disappointment at being dropped from Test team, scored 174 in Ranji match Focus on team effort in subcontinental conditions Conrad also emphasised the importance of teamwork as South Africa prepare for the tough Indian conditions. “It was a team effort in Pakistan and the same will be necessary in India. Every player has a role in ensuring that we always remain competitive in a difficult place,” he said. The upcoming series will be an important one for both teams in the World Test Championship race, with India looking to maintain their strong home record and South Africa aiming to make a statement overseas. Bavuma’s return will strengthen the Proteas’ batting lineup as they gear up for what promises to be a challenging yet exciting series. South Africa’s squad for Test series against India Temba Bavuma (Captain), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuren Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.