With the T20 World Cup less than two months away, India would want their captain Suryakumar Yadav to rediscover his rhythm sooner rather than later.
In the league stage, South Africa suffered two heavy defeats and their batting came apart against spin in both games.
Top-order batters subjugate India A's Test bowlers as SA A register five-wicket win
India will be bolstered by the return of former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - both of whom have retired from Test cricket - adding more depth and experience to the side.
'She will work remote mostly, sometime online and sometime on the field. Starting December she is going to work with us till World Cup and Asian Games.'
While big buys grabbed attention, several franchises quietly walked away with proven performers at throwaway prices -- the kind of signings that often make the difference between mid-table finishes and title runs.
South Africa's head coach Shukri Conrad is backing his spin troika of Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer to match their seasoned counterparts from India and "make history of our own" in the upcoming Test series
Pant's gritty fifty keeps India A together in chase of 275
The controversial decision to select Shubman Gill in place of a well-settled Sanju Samson as the opener has backfired for the Indian team so far.
As Sanju Samson's IPL future remains to be a subject of intense debate, Rajasthan Royals are reportedly in advanced talks with Delhi Capitals for a swap deal involving South African Tristan Stubbs.
The South Africa bowling coach is also hopeful of off-spinner Simon Harmer, one of the heroes of the the visitors' memorable win in the first Test at Eden Gardens, playing in the final game of the short series while also ruling out any issue with his fitness.
South African opener Aiden Markram says his IPL side Lucknow Super Giants should simply focus on winning the crunch moments next year.
Massive chance for series win in India, SA better-placed with spin resources: Bavuma
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has pulled out of next month's IPL 2026 auction and will instead play in the Pakistan Super League.
India require a victory in the third and final ODI to avoid a second successive series defeat against the Proteas after succumbing 0-2 in the preceding Tests.
South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been named in their Twenty20 International squad for the five-match series against India next month, the first time he will have played for the side since the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
Virat and Rohit have made oppositions look silly, fun to see them in dressing room: KL Rahul
Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, may have expressed support for the Kolkata pitch, but it continues to draw criticism from all quarters.
Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday hailed Virat Kohli as the greatest one-day cricketer of all time, saying the Indian icon's world-record tally of centuries underline his unmatched stature in the format.
The once familiar sight of nimble-footed, whippywristed Indian batters dominating spin looks a distant memory, replaced by the horror of watching South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer wreak havoc by taking 17 wickets over the two Tests.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma feels facing an Indian side with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is nothing new.
Saim Ayub scored 77 from 70 balls as Pakistan eased to a seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third and final One-day International in Faisalabad on Saturday to clinch the series 2-1.
'I'm feeling strong. I am feeling fit, and I am feeling ready to go,'
India bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted his side was "surprised" by how quickly the Eden Gardens surface "deteriorated" after a dramatic second day in which 15 wickets fell and the opening Test swung sharply in India's favour.
Countering Bumrah before spinners come into play will be key for SA: Graeme Smith
A rare sight unfolded on day one of the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday when home fans cheered the dismissal of their own captain, Shan Masood.
South Africa fought a rearguard action to turn the second Test against Pakistan on its head and take the upper hand after an enthralling third day's play on Wednesday.
India and Pakistan have managed to "break the ice" on the Asia Cup trophy dispute and will work towards finding a plausible solution in the coming days, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.
'Hopefully, not too far in the future, but more in the near future, we'll go back to play four Tests against India'
South Africa A humble India A by 73 runs to avoid series whitewash
Marco Jansen picked 12 wickets in the two Tests at an average of 10.08 including a six-wicket haul in the first innings of the Guwahati Test, while Jasprit Bumrah managed eight wickets in the series.
Rajasthan Royals have named young wicketkeeper Lhuan-dre Pretorius from South Africa as a replacement for injured Nitish Rana for the remainder of the Indian Premier League.
India have long curated home tracks that accentuate turn, but the assumption their own batters would master such conditions no longer appears safe following their defeat in the opening Test against South Africa.
India will look to reprise their home template of big first-innings totals and sustained spin in the short two-Test series against South Africa beginning in Kolkata on Friday.
India A skipper Rishabh Pant will look to build on the gains from the first match, while the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav will aim for crucial red-ball game time in the second four-day match against a Temba Bavuma-led South Africa A in Bengaluru from Thursday.
'India gave me its heart first. So India will always have mine.'
Grind pays off for Ruturaj Gaikwad, now upto him and luck to prove his 50-over mettle.
The focus is to bring momentum back into the Indian dressing room: Morne Morkel
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, who missed the first Test against India in Kolkata due to a rib injury, is in awe of his team's ability to rebound from setbacks.
We wanted India to grovel: SA coach Shukri Conrad creates a stir
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