Also included is fast bowler Anrich Nortje, but in-form opening batsman Temba Bavuma will have to prove his fitness after injuring his hamstring against England on Sunday.
Patidar or Rinku set for debut; India look to seal series
India's journey into their ODI future will hit its first stop during the opening match against South Africa on Sunday.
England have been largely rusty and inconsistent despite having a dangerous squad on paper.
South Africa's middle-order batter Aiden Markram rued his inability to take the game deep despite top-scoring for his side, saying the Indian bowlers didn't give the visitors any freebies during the second ODI in Ranchi on Sunday.
The Men in Blue are on a 12-match winning streak and come Thursday, they can create an all-time record of winning 13 T20I games in a row.
IMAGES from the first ODI between South Africa and India played at The Wanderers, in Johannesburg, on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina joined the run feast with superb centuries as India A posted a mammoth 582 for nine against South Africa A to take command of the first unofficial Test in Rustenburg on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina joined the run feast with superb centuries as India A posted a mammoth 582 for nine against South Africa A to take command of the first unofficial Test in Rustenburg on Sunday.
Rilee Rossouw smashed a sparkling 78 off 50 balls to drive a youthful South Africa side to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday in the first of three Twenty20 internationals.
The South Africa series in that context is the last big international T20 series that India play followed by one against Afghanistan in mid-January.
Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina joined the run feast with superb centuries as India A posted a mammoth 582 for nine against South Africa A to take command of the first unofficial Test in Rustenburg on Sunday.
Deepak Chahar's unavailability due to an ankle injury will complicate selection matters with India looking for a much-improved bowling performance in the must-win second ODI against South Africa, in Ranchi, on Sunday.
Indian team will certainly feel a sense of deja vu when it takes on a red-hot South Africa on Sunday in what will be a battle of equals
Morne van Wyk blasted an unbeaten century and David Wiese took five wickets as South Africa claimed a consolation 69-run victory over West Indies in the final Twenty20 international on Wednesday.
The most interesting aspect of the contest is the form of batters from both sides which has been the reason of their success so far.
Pakistan needs to win all its matches and expect Australia to falter in at least two of their remaining four games.
India captain Virat Kohli led from the front with an unbeaten 72 to help secure his team's comprehensive seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the second Twenty20 International, in Mohali, on Wednesday.
India, missing their top players, aim to punch above their weight and seal a memorable series victory against South Africa in the third and final ODI in New Delhi on Tuesday.
South Africa's skipper Temba Bavuma was pleased with the way his pacers performed in the demolition of Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup Super 12s match, in Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday.
Captain Quinton de Kock smashed a sparkling century as South Africa eased to a seven-wicket victory over World champions England in the opening One-Day International, at Newlands, on Tuesday.
A place in the ICC ODI World Cup final once again eluded the South Africans as they went down to Australia by three wickets.
IMAGES from the 1st T20I played between India and South Africa at the Wanderers on Sunday
South Africa will be without limited-overs stalwarts Hashim Amla and JP Duminy for their white-ball tour of Australia next month but welcome back all-rounder Chris Morris from injury.
Captain Virat Kohli, who smashed an unbeaten 72 to guide India to a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20 International in Mohali on Wednesday
Images from the third and final One-Day International between India and South Africa in Delhi on Tuesday.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, wicketkeeper/batsman Rudi Second and spin bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy have been included in the 15-man squad that will be captained by Faf du Plessis.
South Africa's openers have struggled and the skipper said losing Quinton de Kock to injury has affected the team.
India will surely fancy their chances of an encore, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Ottneil Baartman registered his best bowling figures of 4 for 11 as South Africa produced a fine bowling effort to restrict Netherlands to 103 for nine
Middle-order batsman Omphile Ramela struck an attractive century as South Africa 'A' posted a comfortable 293 for 4 on the opening day of the first unofficial 'Test' against India 'A', in Wayanad, Kerala, on Tuesday. Riding on the left-hander's 112 off 197 balls, the Proteas dictated terms after skipper Dane Vilas chose to bat.
Axar Patel showed his all-round prowess with an unbeaten 69 as India 'A' posted 417 for 8 against South Africa 'A' and swelled their lead to 157 runs on a rain-hit third day in the second and final unofficial 'Test' in Wayanad, Kerala, on Thursday.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan was back amongst the runs with a brisk 52 off 43 balls but it wasn't enough to get India 'A' over the line against South Africa 'A' in a rain-hit unofficial fourth ODI.
South Africa have included off-form opening batsman Hashim Amla in their squad for the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales starting next month, but there is no place for all-rounder Chris Morris.
India will need another near perfect game to take the five-match series into the decider.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel scalped four wickets without conceding a single run as India 'A' clinched the unofficial Test series against South Africa 'A' 1-0 after an imposing innings and 81 runs victory in the second and final match in Wayanad, Kerala, on Friday.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel scalped five wickets as India 'A' spinners shot out South Africa 'A' for 260 on Day 1 of the second and final unofficial 'Test' in Wayanad, Kerala, on Tuesday.
While the batting looks in perfect shape, India's new-look pace department needs to come up with something special against the Proteas in Cuttack on Sunday.
India will be looking to round off their T20 World Cup preparation with a marked improvement in their death bowling besides providing crucial game time to its untested players in the three-match series against South Africa.
David Miller's late cameo saw South Africa stage a late comeback to outclass Sri Lanka by four wickets in the Super 12 match at the T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances