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South Africa captain Temba Bavuma says Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant apologised for unsavoury on-field remarks during the India tour, while admitting coach Shukri Conrad’s “grovel” comment could have been avoided.

Got apology from Bumrah & Pant; Conrad should've chosen better words: Bavuma reflects on India tour

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma says Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant apologised for unsavoury on-field remarks during the India tour, while admitting coach Shukri Conrad&rsquo;s &ldquo;grovel&rdquo; comment could have been avoided.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has opened up about the "unsavoury" remarks made during his team's recent tour of India, revealing that he received an apology from Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant for an offensive comment while acknowledging that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad should have avoided the infamous "grovel" reference.
In a largely tension-free tour that comprised two Tests, three ODIs and five T20 Internationals, South Africa ended a 25-year wait to win in the longest format in India before losing both the white-ball rubbers.
"I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me. At the end of the day two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologised," Bavuma wrote in a column for 'ESPNCricinfo'.
"When the apology was made, I was in the dark about what it was about, I hadn't heard it at the time and I needed to check in with our media manager about it," he added, referring to an incident during the opening Test in Kolkata where Bumrah and Pant called him "Bauna", referring to his short height.
"What happens on the field, stays on the field but you don't forget what is said. You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se."
Bavuma then talked about Conrad's comment during the second Test in Guwahati. Conrad had stated that the visitors wanted to make the Indian team grovel, which led to comparisons with former England captain Tony Greig's infamous comments with racist connotations during the series against West Indies.
Conrad later apologised and Bavuma said even he felt better words should have been used by his usually measured coach.
"Shukri also took some heat for his 'grovel' remark. I was put under pressure by the media on that side, asking me to clarify the comments that were made. I thought Shukri was the man best positioned to give context to it all," Bavuma said.
"The first time I heard about it, it had that unsavoury taste to it, but I think it just reminded me how tough and competitive the Test series was and what it meant to certain individuals within the group.
"Shukri spoke after the ODI series and put that issue to bed. In hindsight, he said he could have chosen a better word and I agree with him," he added.
Bavuma said he expected a tough series in India and it is exactly what his team encountered.
"You don't want to admit it as such but there are scars that still kind of live there. You just hope that you don't reopen those wounds or relive those moments. There was that from a mental point of view, but also, with past experience, you know how tough it's going to be," he said.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill face intense scrutiny over poor form as India aim to seal the T20I series against South Africa in Lucknow.

India vs South Africa T20I: Suryakumar's Form in Focus

India vs SA T20I: Focus on Suryakumar's Form

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill face intense scrutiny over poor form as India aim to seal the T20I series against South Africa in Lucknow.

Shubman Gill's lean patch has been the talking point but an equally "out of runs" skipper Suryakumar Yadav is also under intense scrutiny as India look to find the right balance and seal the five-match series against South Africa in the fourth T20I in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The third game was an ideal opportunity for Suryakumar to rediscover his touch while India chased a modest 118-run target, but the ease that once made him the top ranked batter in the world was noticeably missing. Shots that defined his dominance have been producing erratic results and the match in Dharamsala was no different as he fell to his trademark pick-up stroke, highlighting a continued struggle.
But he was defiant when it came to self-assessment. "The thing is, I've been batting beautifully in the nets. I'm trying everything that's in my control. When the runs have to come, they'll definitely come. I'm not out of form, but definitely out of runs," Suryakumar confidently said at the post-match presentation ceremony after India's win in Dharamsala on Sunday.
However, the numbers tell a worrying story. The Indian captain has been searching for fluency for over a year, averaging under 15 in the format this season. Additionally, he's still without a half-century in 2025, the longest such phase of his career. Only twice during this period has he managed to bat beyond 20 balls.
With the T20 World Cup less than two months away, the defending champions would want their leader and premier batter to rediscover his rhythm sooner rather than later.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill's struggles are as bad if not worse. His elevation to the opening slot has seemingly unsettled India's top order. Gill replaced a well-settled Sanju Samson. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter was first pushed down the order and eventually dropped despite forming a promising partnership with Abhishek Sharma earlier.
Gill has shown his class in other formats, but in T20Is he is yet to come across the assured batter that he is in Tests and ODIs. While he survived during Sunday's low-target chase, his scratchy run-a-ball 28 did little to ease concerns with seven matches to go before the World Cup.
India have added Shahbaz Ahmed to the squad following Axar Patel's illness-enforced exit from the series, a move that could open the door for Kuldeep Yadav to get an extended run. Jasprit Bumrah's availability remains uncertain after missing the previous match for personal reasons. In his absence, Arshdeep Singh returned to form with a player-of-the-match performance, while Harshit Rana complemented him well in Dharamsala.
South Africa seek consistency
India currently lead the five-match series 2-1. Fortunes have swung wildly so far in the series. While South Africa dominated and the Indians looked completely out of sorts in the lung-opener, the roles were reversed in the next match.
South Africa have been comprehensively beaten twice so far and would be eager to win on Wednesday to keep the series alive. Since the T20 World Cup final last June, the Proteas have lost 18 of the 28 matches in the shortest format, highlighting a prolonged phase of inconsistency.
Still searching for a settled combination, the South African team management continues to ring in changes. The constant chopping and changing has contributed to a lack of rhythm in the players and has ultimately cost them many games.
The last edition's runners-up side has five matches remaining -- two against India and three at home against the West Indies -- to finalise the playing XI before its T20 World Cup opener on February 9. Whether the Proteas persist with rotation at the expense of results remains to be seen.
Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, NT Tilak Verma, Shahbaz Ahmed, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Ottniel Baartman, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde. Match starts at 7 pm.

India’s fast bowlers produced a stunning swing bowling display before Abhishek Sharma’s brisk knock powered a comfortable seven-wicket win over South Africa in the third T20I at Dharamsala.

Pacers shine bright in India's seven-wicket win over SA in 3rd T20I

India&rsquo;s fast bowlers produced a stunning swing bowling display before Abhishek Sharma&rsquo;s brisk knock powered a comfortable seven-wicket win over South Africa in the third T20I at Dharamsala.

Abhishek Sharma played a sparkling little innings after the pacers produced a riveting exhibition of swing bowling, powering India to a smooth seven-wicket victory in the third T20I in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 118 for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, vice-captain Gill (28, 28 balls) and his opening partner Abhishek (35, 18 balls) added 60 runs in 5.2 overs as India achieved their target without much effort in 15.5 overs.
The lone point of interest in India&rsquo;s chase was whether the South African pacers could emulate their Indian counterparts with the new ball, and make the opponents&rsquo; task tougher. However, Abhishek and Gill never allowed the South African bowlers to settle, as the former carted Lungi Ngidi for 16 runs in the first over. In fact, the very first ball of the chase went for a six -- an early indicator of the Indian openers&rsquo; intention.
In the second over, Gill too joined his partner to garner 16 runs as India sped to 32 for no loss in the initial two overs. Abhishek, as is his wont, batted in a single gear and it required a gem of a catch by Aiden Markram in the deep off Corbin Bosch to snap his stay.
Once the left-hander was dismissed, India's chase of the remaining 58 runs settled into a much more sedate rhythm as Gill, who was saved by a DRS call early in his innings, and Tilak Varma (26 not out) did not look for any adventure. Gill's run-a-ball 28 will certainly not rank among his fluent ones, but it might have boosted his confidence after two lukewarm outings in the first two matches of the series.
He eventually dragged a Marco Jansen delivery back on to his stumps, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav too failed to remain till the end. But those were the minor aberrations on the night.
All the credit for this canter should go to India&rsquo;s pacers, who produced a mesmerizing spell of swing bowling to bundle out South Africa for a below-par 117. Leading India&rsquo;s show with early wickets were Arshdeep Singh (2/13), Harshit Rana (2/34) and Hardik Pandya (1/23) after the hosts chose to bowl.
Skipper Markram offered a tiny spark for South Africa with a spirited 46-ball 61. Undoubtedly, the brightest stars under a cool sky were India&rsquo;s quick bowlers, who procured lethal swing and lateral movement with the new ball. It had its effect on the low-key power play effort of South Africa -- 25 for three -- and the phase contained just two fours.
Arshdeep, who had a horror outing at Mullanpur a couple of days back, redeemed himself with a dream first spell (3-0-9-1). He bowled three deliveries which angled away from Reeza Hendricks and then jagged one back to trap the South African opener leg before with the help of DRS.
Rana did precisely the same to Quinton de Kock, a nip-backer, trapping the frozen-legged left-hander inside the crease. Dewald Brevis was slightly unfortunate to get castled while attempting a release shot off a wide delivery from Rana.
South Africa suddenly found themselves at 7 for 3 in 3.1 overs, and it was always going to be an uphill climb for them from there. Markram crunched a couple of sweet drives in between to keep the board moving but Tristan Stubbs and Bosch departed in quick succession to further derail South African innings.
Stubbs&rsquo; wicket helped all-rounder Pandya to complete 100 wickets in T20Is, the third Indian bowler to do so after Arshdeep and Jasprit Bumrah, who did not play this match after returning home to attend to a personal situation. The BCCI said his availability for the remainder of the series will be announced in due course.
Kuldeep Yadav too came into the eleven for an unwell Axar Patel. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2/11 in 4 overs) too reached a milestone, capturing his 50th T20I wicket while flattening the stumps of Donovan Ferreira (20, 15 balls).
The big-hitting Ferreria was dropped on 13 by Arshdeep at long-on off Shivam Dube, but that did not hurt India. Chakravarthy cut open the lower-order with his bottomless bag of tricks as the pitch also continued to offer good pace and carry. The spinner also added the wicket of Jansen to keep South Africa pinned to the mat.
Markram completed his fifty off 41 balls with a slashed six off Rana, as the 18th over produced 19 runs. But the South African surge came tad too late.

India’s batting faltered again as Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav continued their lean run, handing South Africa a 51-run win in the second T20. Quinton de Kock’s blistering 90 powered the visitors to 213/4 before Indian batters collapsed.

South Africa level series after de Kock special; Gill, SKY misfire again

India&rsquo;s batting faltered again as Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav continued their lean run, handing South Africa a 51-run win in the second T20. Quinton de Kock&rsquo;s blistering 90 powered the visitors to 213/4 before Indian batters collapsed.

The lean run of Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav was extended as Indian batters stumbled on a good batting surface to lose the second T20 against South Africa by 51 runs in Mullanpur on Thursday.&nbsp;
Quinton de Kock made an effortless 90 of 46 balls, pushing South Africa to a challenging 213 for four after India opted to field.
India were expected to chase down the steep target but South Africa removed Indian trio of Abhishek Sharma (17), Gill (0) and Suryakumar Yadav (5) inside the powerplay to put the hosts on the backfoot. India were eventually bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs with Tilak Varma (62 off 34) playing a lone hand.
The five match series now stands at 1-1 with the third match scheduled in Dharamsala on December 14. The local crowd was expecting their home heroes, Gill and Abhishek, to fire but it was not to be.
Yet to realise his potential in the shortest format, vice-captain Gill, facing his very first ball, got a beauty from Lungi Ngidi that seamed away from length to take a thick outside edge. Abhshek was caught behind in the following over from Marco Jansen. Next to depart was skipper Suryakumar who too got a faint edge after Jansen angled it away from the India skipper.
Batting at three, Axar Patel (21 off 21) was pouched at cover with Reeza Hendricks just about managing to have his fingers under the ball. From thereon, Tilak batted at a high tempo but lack of partnerships and soaring run rate pushed the game out of India's reach..
Earlier, de Kock entertained the crowd with his remarkable strokeplay. When in full flow, De Kock is among the most attractive batters in the game and he flaunted his special skills on a true pitch. He was mainly dealing in sixes in the middle and majority of his seven maximums came in the deep square leg region.
De Kock, who recently reversed his ODI retirement and was not sure about his T20 future post the World Cup last year, is back with a renewed purpose and remains on top of his game. An innings like this just less than a week before the mini auction will also create the buzz among the franchises, who might indulge in a bidding war for the multi-skilled cricketer.
Arshdeep Singh, who had De Kock caught behind in the series opener, was at the receiving end on Thursday. De Kock began the assault with a pick up shot for six off Arshdeep before pulling the left-arm pacer for a maximum over deep mid-wicket.
Jasprit Bumrah too conceded 16 runs in his second over after being disdainfully pulled for six by Reeza Hendricks. The right-hander missed a skidder from Varun Chakravarthy in the following over to give India a welcome breakthrough but De Kock maintained the pressure on the opposition, taking his team to 53-1 in the powerplay.
Brought back into the attack in 11th over, Arshdeep lost his usual calm under pressure after being smashed for a six down the ground by De Kock. The Indian pacer tried to bowl wide yorkers from thereon but failed miserably and ended up bowling as many as seven wides in a 18-run over.
The South African opener looked certain to cross the 100-run mark for the second time in his T20 career but was run out in a bizarre fashion by wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma after attempting a non existent single.
The big hits kept coming even after de Kock's fall with Donavan Ferreria (30 not off 16) and David Miller (20 not out off 12) doing the damage in the death overs.
Arshdeep's new ball partner Bumrah too had an off day and conceded 18 runs in the 20th over after being hammered for two towering sixes by Ferreira. India leaked 123 runs in the last 10 overs.

Shubman Gill looks to find form while India aim to continue dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International at Mullanpur, with Hardik Pandya returning and key players under scrutiny.

2nd T20I: Pressure mounts on Gill as India look to press advantage in Mullanpur

Shubman Gill looks to find form while India aim to continue dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International at Mullanpur, with Hardik Pandya returning and key players under scrutiny.

Yet to stamp his authority in the shortest format, Shubman Gill would be eying major gains on home soil when a well-rounded India look to extend their dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International in Mullanpur on Thursday.
With only a travel day separating the first two games of the five-match series, Gill won't mind getting straight into the middle in search of a substantial knock. India steamrolled South Africa in the series opener but the middling returns from Gill, since his T20 comeback in Asia Cup back in September, remains a talking point.
Following an impressive debut as Test captain in the UK, Gill was brought back into the T20 setup. Even though Sanju Samson and his Punjab teammate Abhishek Sharma were doing the job at the top of the order, the team management showed immense faith in Gill's abilities as a T20 opener.
The batter from Kerala was displaced and he has since then struggled to find a place in the playing eleven. The Test and ODI captain can seamlessly perform the role that Virat Kohli performed for India till the T20 World Cup last year but the team, with batting options till number eight, has doubled down on its fearless approach since the triumph in Barbados, leaving little room for an anchor.
Gill certainly can't go hammer and tongs like Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay and therefore needs to figure out what works best for him.
Besides Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has failed to find consistency over the past 12 months, is also facing additional scrutiny. Couple of months down the line, Suryakumar would be leading India's World Cup defence at home and considering the added responsibility, flow of runs from his bat form a crucial piece of the puzzle heading into the ICC showpiece.
In the colder environment of New Chandigarh, India are unlikely to tinker with the winning combination. Returning to national duty from injury, Hardik Pandya reaffirmed his status as the leading all-rounder in the game. His 28-ball 59 made a massive difference on a sticky wicket while it took him one ball to make an impact with the ball.
The selection on Tuesday also indicated that two strike bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, will not be part of the same eleven due to the need for batting till number eight. Arshdeep got the nod on this occasion and India's leading wicket-taker in the format was once again able to provide the early wickets bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa, on the other hand, would be looking for a drastically better outing with the bat after being bundled out for 74 in the run chase of 176. There is no time to reflect on the scale of the defeat and that can only be a good thing for the visitors.
"Nowadays in T20 cricket, there's not much time to look around and absorb. But the biggest factor was obviously not being able to build partnerships, settling after losing wickets and getting some momentum on our side. So yeah, we'll have brief conversations," said skipper Aiden Markram.
The venue would be hosting its first ever T20 International after hosting two women's ODIs back in September. During the last IPL, the pitches produced were not the easiest to bat on with scores ranging from excess of 200 to as low as 101.
On the sidelines of the fixture, stands named after Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur would also be unveiled.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donnovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Reeza Hendricks, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Ottneil Bartman.
Match starts at 7pm IST.

Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten fifty and disciplined Indian bowling dismantled South Africa for 74 as India sealed a dominant 101-run win in the Cuttack T20I series opener.

Pandya's blazing fifty, ruthless bowlers earn India 101-run win over SA

Hardik Pandya&rsquo;s unbeaten fifty and disciplined Indian bowling dismantled South Africa for 74 as India sealed a dominant 101-run win in the Cuttack T20I series opener.

Hardik Pandya made a memorable comeback to competitive cricket, striking a mood-lifting unbeaten fifty and then took a key wicket as India etched a dominant 101-run win over South Africa in the opening match of the five-match series in Cuttack on Tuesday.
The victory helped India take a 1-0 lead in the rubber and it also pushed South Africa to their lowest-ever T20I total. Their previous lowest was also against India -- 87 all out in Rajkot in 2022.
India had been pushed onto the back-foot after SA asked them to bat first on a tacky red-soil surface, but Pandya&rsquo;s commanding 59 not out off 28 balls rescued them from early turbulence. India posted a competitive 175/6.
On a pitch that demanded discipline, South Africa showed none, to be all out for a mere 74 in 12.3 overs, as the hosts&rsquo; bowlers ran through them with relentless accuracy.
Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel grabbed two wickets each, while Pandya fittingly chipped in with the prized scalp of David Miller. It was also South Africa&rsquo;s first defeat in three T20Is in Cuttack, and if India had started shakily, South Africa began disastrously.
Arshdeep set the tone with a superb away-swinger that kissed past Quinton de Kock&rsquo;s tentative prod for a two-ball duck.
In his next over, Arshdeep produced another beauty -- a length ball that jagged back into the in-form Tristan Stubbs (14).
India went upstairs for the review, and UltraEdge confirmed a thick inside edge onto the elbow before Jitesh Sharma completed a sharp take as South Africa were 18/2 inside four overs.
Axar was introduced in the final over of the powerplay and struck immediately.
Aiden Markram, shuffling back to work a skiddy, straight delivery, was beaten on the inside edge to get bowled. At 28/3 in six overs, South Africa were already in a hole.
Pandya then added to their misery, dismissing Miller.
Chakravarthy, operating with sharp drift and deceptive pace, got into action after the powerplay. Donovan Ferreira was late to react to a delivery that held back, and could only nick behind to Jitesh.
Marco Jansen, who had fielded brilliantly earlier, was undone by Chakravarthy&rsquo;s googly as South Africa slid to 68/6.
The end arrived quickly thereafter with Bumrah cleaning up Dewald Brevis and Keshav Maharaj in the space of four deliveries.
Earlier, coming back after 74 days following a left quadricep injury that forced him out of the Asia Cup, Pandya walked in at No. 6 and immediately changed the tempo of the match.
India had slipped in both the power play and middle overs losing six wickets, but Pandya, who had proved his fitness at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda with a 42-ball 77 not out, counter-attacked with clean, fearless hitting to finish en route his sixth T20I fifty.
He began with two towering sixes against Maharaj just after a well-set Tilak Varma (26) fell. Pandya then ripped into Anrich Nortje with a 17-run over, even stepping out to a 149kph thunderbolt to punch it for four.
Jansen tried to rush him with short balls, but Pandya pulled one with vengeance before racing towards fifty that lifted the mood in the stadium.
He struck a six and four off Lutho Sipamla (2/38) in the 19th over, and reached his half-century in 25 balls with a ramped six over third man off Nortje in the final over, celebrating it with a muted raise of the bat.
Pandya's late fireworks helped India add 71 runs in the last six overs.
But on a fresh red-soil surface offering two-paced bounce, India struggled early. Abhishek Sharma (17), Shubman Gill (4) and Suryakumar Yadav (12) all fell inside seven overs as Lungi Ngidi (3/31) exploited the conditions superbly with clever variations.
He removed Gill early as the batter chipped to Jansen at mid-off, and later had skipper Suryakumar holding out to Markram to have India 17/2.
Abhishek tried to force the pace after the field restrictions lifted, but fell to Sipamla, thanks to a stunning sliding catch by the 2.06m Jansen sprinting across from long leg to fine leg.
His brief stay of 17 off 12 balls ended just as he began to find rhythm with back-to-back boundaries as India soon slipped to 48/3 in 6.3 overs.
Varma looked set while smashing a towering six off Nortje and with two fours in his 32-ball 26 but the Indian innings started to wobble again with him and Axar (23) dismissed by Ngidi and Sipamla respectively.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and other Team India members sought blessings at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri ahead of the T20 series against South Africa.

Team India Seeks Blessings at Jagannath Temple Before T20 Clash

Team India Visits Jagannath Temple for Blessings

Head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and other Team India members sought blessings at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri ahead of the T20 series against South Africa.

Ahead of the first T20 International against South Africa at Cuttack&rsquo;s Barabati Stadium, four members of Team India, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday to seek blessings.
Suryakumar, accompanied by his wife Devisha Shetty, entered the 12th-century shrine amid tight security.
"Jai Jagannath," the skipper chanted as he walked into the temple, escorted by security personnel and Puri SP Prateek Singh. Players Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar also offered prayers.
"We had made special arrangements for the visiting Team India players who arrived here for the blessings of Lord Jagannath. Everything was smooth, and they had &lsquo;darshan&rsquo; of the sibling deities &mdash; Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath &mdash; inside the temple," Singh told reporters.
Servitor Rabi Pratihari organised a special puja for the players and performed a ceremonial lamp offering, praying for Team India&rsquo;s success in the upcoming series.
The team members returned to Bhubaneswar after the darshan, the SP added.&nbsp;

India start their five-match T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack with the returns of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, as Suryakumar Yadav’s form and the Sanju Samson–Jitesh Sharma wicketkeeper debate remain key talking points.

Gill, Hardik return as India begin official T20I WC build-up vs South Africa

India start their five-match T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack with the returns of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, as Suryakumar Yadav&rsquo;s form and the Sanju Samson&ndash;Jitesh Sharma wicketkeeper debate remain key talking points.

The return of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya will lend fresh sheen and much-needed completeness to reigning world champions India when they begin their official march towards the home T20 World Cup with the opening match of a five-game series against South Africa, in Cuttack on Tuesday.
This series marks the start of India's formal build-up to the February showpiece, where they will play 10 T20Is -- five against South Africa followed by another five against New Zealand -- before opening their title defence against the USA at the Wankhede on February 7.
The defending champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
India have been a formidable T20I unit post their World Cup triumph in the format last year, where they won eight matches in a row to lift the title. Since then, they have extended their tally to 26 wins with only four losses, including a seven-match streak during their Asia Cup victory in Dubai. They have not lost a T20I series in this period, and with only minor tweaks needed, they will be hoping to sharpen the edges against the side they defeated in the T20 World Cup final.
Gill's return Gill's return comes after he missed almost a month of cricket owing to a neck spasm suffered while attempting a slog sweep during the opening Test against the Proteas. Having played non-stop cricket since the last IPL and with India facing a packed season ahead, his workload management will be closely monitored.
But for Gill, who has 837 runs from 33 T20Is at an average of 29.89, this series also doubles up as vital preparation heading into the ICC event. His reunion with Abhishek Sharma brings back a high-impact opening pair that marries brute force with clean, classical strokeplay.
Abhishek, fresh from a standout tour of Australia where he topped India's scoring charts with 163 runs in the 2-1 victory, has been in monstrous domestic touch. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, the Punjab left-hander hammered 304 runs at an average of 50.66 and a staggering strike rate of 249-plus, including a breathtaking 52-ball 148 against Bengal as Punjab posted 310/5.
 Pandya comeback Hardik Pandya's comeback is equally significant. Out for more than two months after a quadricep injury during the Asia Cup, the all-rounder marked his return in style with a 42-ball 77 not out for Baroda in the SMAT before bowling four overs at full tilt for 1/52.
He arrived here a day ahead of the squad, trained solo at the Barabati Stadium, bowled for 20 minutes and went through an extended physical routine. His presence not only deepens India's batting but restores the balance of a bowling attack built heavily on flexibility.
 SKY's form One of the central conversations ahead of the series has been skipper Suryakumar Yadav's prolonged lean patch. The contrast between his dazzling IPL 2025, where he amassed 717 runs for Mumbai Indians, and his underwhelming T20I returns have been striking.
Since taking over as full-time T20I captain in July last year, his form has dipped to an average of 15.33 with 184 runs in 15 innings, he has not scored a fifty in the last 20 games, and his strike rate has reduced to 127.77 from the 187-plus he clocked in 2022. Even in the SMAT this season, he failed to reach a fifty, scoring 165 runs from five matches. Any drastic move before the World Cup looks unlikely, but the next 10 T20Is will add fodder to conversations surrounding both his form and captaincy.
 Sanju vs Jitesh The wicketkeeper-batter debate -- Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma -- remains equally tantalising. India's handling of the pair during the Australia series raised eyebrows, with Samson batting only once, promoted to No. 3, before Jitesh was backed for the last three T20Is.
Since India's World Cup triumph, Samson has been the team's third-highest run-getter, flourishing as an opener with three centuries, including two in South Africa. But Gill's return as vice-captain pushed Samson down the order into a role he rarely occupies in T20 cricket.
In the recent SMAT, Samson looked in excellent touch with two fifties, two 40s and a 56-ball 73 not out against Andhra, while Jitesh managed modest returns for Baroda with a top score of 41 from six outings.
 SA notes South Africa, for their part, welcome back tearaway pacer Anrich Nortje for his first international appearance since last year's T20 World Cup final. Marco Jansen's evolution as a genuine all-rounder adds heft to the visitors; his blistering 93 in the Guwahati Test and 70 off 39 balls in Ranchi underscored a renewed authority with the bat to go with his established potency with the ball.
Veteran left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also returns to the white-ball fold, though the Proteas will sorely miss star batter Tony de Zorzi and young fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, both ruled out of the five-match series due to injury.
Teams (from): India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottineil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donnovan Ferreria, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.
Match Starts: 7pm IST.

Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden ton went in vain as South Africa sealed a four-wicket win in Raipur, chasing 359 to level the series 1-1.

Kohli, Gaikwad hundreds in vain as South Africa chase 359 to level ODI series

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad&rsquo;s maiden ton went in vain as South Africa sealed a four-wicket win in Raipur, chasing 359 to level the series 1-1.

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 53rd ODI ton and Ruturaj Gaikwad&rsquo;s maiden century were eclipsed by a collective effort from South Africa in a steep run chase, giving the visitors a series levelling four wicket-win in the second ODI against India in Raipur on Wednesday.
Chasing 359, South Africa rode on a brilliant century from Aiden Markram (110), a brutal 34-ball 54 (1x4s, 5x6s) from Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke's 68 to get over the line in another resilient effort with the bat.
The series-deciding third and final ODI will be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
India&rsquo;s job was far from done even after putting a daunting total on board as heavy dew in the second half not only made spinners&rsquo; job tougher, but poor returns from Prasidh Krishna (2/79) did not help their cause.
Prasidh, who had broken a second-wicket century partnership earlier by dismissing Temba Bavuma (46), got it right finally to pin Breetzke leg-before late in the game, and soon after, Arshdeep Singh (2/54) removed the dangerous Marco Jansen (2), but Corbin Bosch (29 not out off 15) and Keshav Maharaj (10 not out off 14) took the Proteas over the line with four balls to spare.
Markram was in his elements utilising a flat deck under lights to notch up his maiden century against India and providing South Africa a heavy contribution from the top to push on.
He took the initiative in the opening partnership and even though he lost Quinton de Kock (8) early with Arshdeep drawing first blood, Markram found a stable partner in Bavuma to put on 101 for the second wicket.
Markram had to remain the aggressor as Bavuma farmed the strike from the other end. Markram pierced gaps at will with brute force as well as some artistry.
He also hit through the line and over the bowlers&rsquo; head to clear the ropes while using the feet well against Indian spinners, with heavy dew making their job even more difficult as the innings progressed.
But the opener also had luck favouring him when a powerful hit off Kuldeep Yadav towards long on saw the ball going through Yashasvi Jaiswal&rsquo;s hands for a six.
Had the catch been taken, Markram&rsquo;s charge would&rsquo;ve ended on 53.
Markram eventually fell off a short off-cutter from Harshit Rana (1/70) but his dismissal had Brevis and Breetzke teaming up, who waltzed to 92 off the next 64 balls to put South Africa in complete control.
While Brevis fell after his quick fifty which featured some massive sixes , Breetzke made a composed 68 for a second consecutive half-century.
Incidentally, it was only the second occasion where India lost an ODI despite scoring in excess of 350, with the first instance being against Australia in March 2019 when they lost by a similar margin of four wickets despite making 358/9 at Mohali.
Earlier, Kohli&rsquo;s successive hundred, maiden century from Gaikwad (105) and KL Rahul&rsquo;s quickfire 66 not out propelled India to a formidable 358 for five.
Kohli (102 off 93 balls, 7x4s, 2x6s) and Gaikwad (105 off 83 balls, 12x4s, 2x6s) reset the record for highest third-wicket stand for India in ODIs against South Africa as their 195-run association built the platform for the hosts to launch themselves into a big score.
And Rahul&rsquo;s (66 not out off 43 balls, 6x4s, 2x6s) second fifty in a row ensured that, even as India continued to tinker with their batting line-up with the stand-in skipper coming in at No 5 ahead of Washington Sundar, who endured another failure.
Unlike at Ranchi where he did not look accustomed to batting in the middle order, Gaikwad emerged a perfect foil for Kohli as the two began racking up runs with ease.
With Ajinkya Rahane in tow, Kohli had put on 189 at Durban in February 2018 but perhaps on some counts, this partnership with Gaikwad was the one he may have enjoyed a little more as the Maharashtra batter matched his style of play.
The rotation of strike was deft, the singles were seamlessly converted into doubles and at times it was difficult for one to distinguish who had pierced the gap for those runs &mdash; not necessarily boundaries &mdash; as Gaikwad even appeared to be matching Kohli in terms of stroke-play.
If he was roughed up at the start, Gaikwad grew in confidence to post a fine half-century. Once past the milestone, he picked up pace.
Off the blocks with a perfect pull shot which sent the ball sailing over the ropes, it was yet another day in the office for Kohli who did not put a foot wrong on way to a record extending 53rd ODI ton.

Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill have returned to India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa, beginning December 9, after recovering from injuries.

Fit-again Gill, Pandya picked for T20I series against South Africa

Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill have returned to India&rsquo;s T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa, beginning December 9, after recovering from injuries.

Flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya and star batter Shubman Gill on Wednesday returned to the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa after recovering from their respective injuries.
Gill, who missed a major part of the Test series and the ODIs against South Africa due to a neck injury, has been picked for the T20 games as vice-captain after recovering from his condition. Gill's participation, however, is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence, the board said in a statement.
Pandya, who missed the Asia Cup 2025 final and the five-match series in Australia, also made a comeback in India's setup after proving his fitness on Tuesday during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Punjab in Hyderabad.
Gill, who is India's Test and ODI skipper, sustained the injury during the opening Test against the Proteas in Kolkata. He was subsequently ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati and the ODI series that followed.
The selection committee meeting to pick the T20 squad took place here on Wednesday. The five-match series begins December 9 in Cuttack. The other matches are scheduled in Chandigarh (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17) and Ahmedabad (December 19). Suryakumar Yadav is the regular T20I skipper for India.
India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

India pacer Harshit Rana received an official reprimand and one demerit point from the ICC for an aggressive gesture after dismissing Dewald Brevis during the first ODI in Ranchi.

Harshit Rana Reprimanded by ICC for Aggressive Conduct in Ranchi ODI

Harshit Rana Penalized by ICC for ODI Conduct

India pacer Harshit Rana received an official reprimand and one demerit point from the ICC for an aggressive gesture after dismissing Dewald Brevis during the first ODI in Ranchi.

India pace bowler Harshit Rana was on Wednesday reprimanded and handed out one demerit point by the ICC for his aggressive behaviour after dismissing South African batter Dewald Brevis during the first ODI in Ranchi.&nbsp;
"Rana was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct," said ICC in a statement.&nbsp;
The incident occurred in the 22nd over of South Africa's innings on Sunday, when the India pacer, after dismissing Brevis, gestured in the direction of the dressing room, which "could have provoked an aggressive response from the batter".&nbsp;
Rana was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.&nbsp;
"In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Rana's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period," added ICC statement Rana returned figures of 3 for 65 in the match, which India won by 17 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.&nbsp;
A Level 1 breaches carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.&nbsp;
In the event of a player reaching four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they get converted into suspension points.
Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player. The demerit points remain on a player's record for 24 months from their imposition.

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa’s comeback potential remain key talking points.

India rely on Kohli-Rohit pair to seal ODI series victory against doughty South Africa

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa&rsquo;s comeback potential remain key talking points.

The chatter around the volatile dressing room environment notwithstanding, India will rely on Virat Kohli's imperious form and Rohit Sharma's indomitable presence to seal a series victory over a doughty South Africa in the second ODI, in Raipur on Wednesday.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit paved the way for India's 17-run win in the series-opener at Ranchi, where the home bowlers endured a spirited fightback from the Proteas before managing to stop them.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup two years away, Kohli and Rohit are not only auditioning every match to prove their fitness and form but are also reportedly managing growing differences with head coach Gautam Gambhir. The issue has dominated the off-field talk and is expected to have the BCCI stepping in at some point.
Having set up two consecutive victories for India in last as many ODIs -- including a nine-wicket hammering of Australia at Sydney in October -- Kohli and Rohit have shown they will everything possible to be on that flight to the World Cup in South Africa.
Both the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir have remained non-committal about their participation in the World Cup and that has probably been at the centre of the simmering tensions between the two sides.
However, India have a lot more to worry about despite the opening win. For starters, the combination does not seem perfectly aligned. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has built an impressive record in List A cricket, was pushed from opening to No 4. He did not look completely conditioned for the role, with stand-in captain KL Rahul staunchly defending his position at No 6.
Washington Sundar is not new to such experiments as the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who batted at No 3 in Kolkata Test against the Proteas, has seen plenty of changes in his batting positions. But in the first ODI at No 5, he too was among the batters dismissed in a phase where India slowed down. And again for an all-rounder, Washington also had another light day in terms of bowling as he sent down only three overs for 18 runs.
To his credit, Harshit Rana did a lot of good to his reputation with two wickets upfront with the new ball but his knack of giving away runs later on will require the all-rounder to bring in more control, especially when only one ball is allowed to play with after the 34th over.
In their bid to restore balance between bat and ball, the ICC's new rule allows only one ball from the existing two to be continued with from 34-50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav snaffled key wickets for a match haul of 4/68 and even though he was a shade expensive, his variation proved to be the difference as South Africa fell short but then, not by a big margin.
South Africa will indeed take a lot of heart in their inspired comeback after being reduced to 11/3 at one stage. On a flat deck, Marco Jansen tore into the Indian bowlers once again for a minute-a-mile half-century (off 26 balls), scoring a strokeful 70 off 39 balls.
Matthew Breetzke notched up a fine 72 in his first ODI against India to lead a comeback for South Africa while their long tail, which includes the dangerous Corbin Bosch, threatened to take the game away from India.
South Africa played in the first ODI without their regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who both were rested after their historic Test series win. But the Proteas are expected to bolster their squad with their return.
Like Guwahati where the hosts were not too accustomed with the pitch and conditions, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in the Chhattisgarh capital is also relatively unfamiliar.
In the only ODI played here at this venue, India made light work of New Zealand in January 2023 when Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj exploited sharp seam movement off the pitch to bowl the Kiwis out for a mere 108. The hosts completed an eight-wicket win with nearly 30 overs to spare.
Even the only T20I played here in December 2023, against Australia, was also not a high-scoring affair which India won by 20 runs after putting on 174/9. 
Teams (from): India: KL Rahul (c&amp;wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann (wk), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Match starts at 1:30pm IST.

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Dhoni hosts Kohli for special Ranchi dinner, then drives him back to hotel; video goes viral

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Ranchi turned into a hub of excitement on Thursday night as former India captain MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for a special dinner at his residence.&nbsp;
The intimate gathering became the most talked-about moment ahead of India&rsquo;s ODI series against South Africa, with visuals dominating social media within minutes.
Kohli, who flew in from London a day earlier, drove to Dhoni&rsquo;s home in the evening along with Pant.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Reunion of the year? 🥺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSA</a> 1st ODI | SUN, 30 NOV, 12:30 PM <a href="https://t.co/wu2qSTn30i">pic.twitter.com/wu2qSTn30i</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1994097630440509765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The two spent several hours at the veteran&rsquo;s residence, enjoying what insiders described as a warm, relaxed get-together&mdash;something that has now become a tradition whenever India plays in Ranchi.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rishabh Pant at MS Dhoni house <a href="https://t.co/L9Qh33rvMA">pic.twitter.com/L9Qh33rvMA</a>
&mdash; Yash MSdian &trade;️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) <a href="https://twitter.com/itzyash07/status/1994079726294454586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Fans later captured Dhoni himself behind the wheel, dropping Kohli back to the team hotel, a gesture that fuelled nostalgia and reminded many of their long-standing bond.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BEST PICTURE ON THE INTERNET TODAY. &hearts;️ - Virat Kohli &amp; MS Dhoni riding together in a same car at Ranchi. <a href="https://t.co/ubW8mKxPuU">pic.twitter.com/ubW8mKxPuU</a>
&mdash; Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImTanujSingh/status/1994133943797600746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Videos showed Dhoni&rsquo;s house bustling with arrivals, not just from Kohli and Pant but also from Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who joined the informal gathering.&nbsp;
The dinner created a calm and comforting environment for players coming off a tough Test series loss, offering a quiet moment of camaraderie before shifting focus to the ODIs.
A Familiar Ranchi Ritual
Whenever India travels to Ranchi, players visiting Dhoni&rsquo;s home for dinner has become an unspoken ritual. The former skipper, though retired, continues to command immense affection within the team. Younger cricketers like Gaikwad and Tilak Varma often look forward to these evenings, seeing them as an opportunity to bond, share experiences, and ease into the pressure of an upcoming series.
Thursday's dinner was no different. With the ODI squad gathering in the city, Dhoni&rsquo;s hospitality set the tone for the team&rsquo;s reset phase. For Pant, coming off a difficult Test series, and Kohli, returning to ODIs after mixed form against Australia, the evening provided a much-needed breather.
Players Begin Training; Leaders Return
Earlier in the day, Kohli and Rohit Sharma were seen practising in the nets along with Tilak Varma and Gaikwad. This South Africa series marks the return of both senior batters to ODI cricket. India will also be without Shubman Gill, ruled out due to injury, leaving Pant and Gaikwad with greater responsibilities in the middle and top order respectively.
Pant Seeks Fresh Start; Kohli Eyes Momentum
Pant, who apologised to fans during the Test series saying the team &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t play good enough cricket,&rdquo; now gets a fresh chance at redemption in the ODI format &mdash; his first since August 2024. Kohli, meanwhile, will look to build on his match-winning fifty in the last ODI against Australia after back-to-back ducks earlier in the series.
India&rsquo;s ODI Squad
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

India slumped to 27/2 on day four of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, chasing a massive target of 549. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell early, leaving Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav at the crease.

India Stumbles in Chase of 549, South Africa Dominates Day Four

India vs South Africa Test: India Stumbles on Day Four

India slumped to 27/2 on day four of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, chasing a massive target of 549. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell early, leaving Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav at the crease.

India stared down the barrel as a ruthless South Africa slowly tortured the home side by posting an improbable victory target of 549 that has all but ensured the visitors' first series triumph in Guwahati in 25 years at the end of the fourth day of the second Test.
After South Africa declared their second innings at 260 for 5, India were reeling at 27 for 2 at stumps on Tuesday, having lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) to Marco Jansen and KL Rahul (6) to Simon Harmer respectively.
Sai Sudharsan (2 batting) and night-watchman Kuldeep Yadav (4 batting) were at the crease, but it will take a herculean effort from the remaining batters to save the game on the final day and avoid the ignominy of a 0-2 whitewash.
The only saving grace for them could be the fact that light fades quickly in this part of the world after 3:45 pm, and not more than 80 overs have been possible on any of the past four days. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will certainly prefer a 0-1 series defeat over a 0-2 result, which would be the second series debacle at home against a SENA nation in the past 12 months.
On the fourth day, the reigning World Test Champions had two targets. First was to set a target that would be virtually out of reach. Secondly, the more time Proteas spent batting on the fourth day, the stronger became the chances of the red soil track crumbling on the fifth day.
Tristan Stubbs (94 off 180 balls), who missed out on a half-century in the first innings by a solitary run, this time fell short of a Test ton by only six runs. Once Stubbs became Ravindra Jadeja's (4/62 in 28.3 overs) fourth victim, skipper Temba Bavuma declared the second innings, having knocked the stuffing out of the Indian team by making them bowl for 78.3 overs.
Stubbs enjoyed a 101-run stand for the fourth wicket with Tony de Zorzi (49) and another 82 for the fifth wicket with Wiaan Mulder (35 not out). This followed a 50-plus opening stand between Ryan Rickleton (28) and Aiden Markram (35). Bavuma, an experienced captain, looked tactically superior compared to India's stand-in skipper Pant, who appeared bereft of ideas in his debut leadership role, albeit in a one-off game.
Bavuma could have called his men in after their lead swelled to 450, but he perhaps wanted to ensure that the SG Test remained relatively new when his men came out to bowl in the morning. They would try to exploit any help available from the surface before it flattens out.
The pitch still looks solid, even though the degree of turn has gradually increased from less than three on the first day to 4.6 on the fourth day. That was evident when Jadeja, who hardly gets any purchase in helpful batting conditions, tossed one up to Aiden Markram, luring him into a forward defensive stroke. The ball pitched on the middle stump, turned sharply away from Markram's outside edge, and clipped the off-stump.
A few overs later, Bavuma fell for a leg-side trap set by Washington Sundar as a delivery bounced and turned into his rib cage, with the tickle taken down at leg-slip by Nitish Reddy. However, after that dismissal, both Washington (1/67 in 22 overs) and Jadeja stopped getting appreciable turn, and Stubbs and De Zorzi farmed the strike with ease.
Pant's tactical calls and field placements also left a lot to be desired. He constantly switched between an "in-out" field (half close in and a few deep) to five fielders in the deep to save boundaries. At one point, it felt that the Indian team was merely playing the waiting game, looking for Bavuma to declare the innings.
The Indian skipper also couldn&rsquo;t give Kuldeep (0/48 in 12 overs) more opportunities to bowl, as he was being hit for runs. Pant needed a bit of control, which Jadeja and Washington collectively provided for 50-plus overs. But despite their discipline, the duo never looked as menacing as Harmer, who has troubled the Indian batters in both innings. 
Brief Scores: South Africa: 489 &amp; 260 for 5 declared in 78.3 overs (Ryan Rickelton 35, Aiden Markram 29, Tristan Stubbs 94, Tony de Zorzi 49; Ravindra Jadeja 4/62). India: 201 &amp; 27 for 2 in 15.5 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 13, KL Rahul 6).

Rishabh Pant captains India in Shubman Gill’s absence as the team faces South Africa on a spin-friendly Guwahati track, entering the Test as underdogs.

2nd Test: 'Pitched battle' on cards as India aim to draw level

Rishabh Pant captains India in Shubman Gill&rsquo;s absence as the team faces South Africa on a spin-friendly Guwahati track, entering the Test as underdogs.

Rishabh Pant will walk into an immensely challenging leadership exam in the absence of Shubman Gill as India face the uphill task of restoring parity against a well-prepared South Africa on a surface that is expected to offer appreciable turn in the second and final Test starting in Guwahati on Saturday.
An even tougher test looms for head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose often perplexing calls have left the dressing room and think-tank grappling for clarity. The aura of invincibility while playing at home that accompanied the Indian teams of last three decades has vanished when it comes to the current one, which is looking vulnerable.
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be. If the New Zealand spin duo of Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner tore the perception of invincibility to shreds in 2024, Simon Harmer and his other colleagues are making a young Indian side look even more vulnerable.
The lack of a proper technique to handle spinners is apparent and jarring. Add to it, a massive shift in mindset on tracks that implode, has made matters worse. While Gambhir, with support of men who matter in the BCCI, is perfectly safe when it comes to his job, a 0-5 home record against two SENA countries will damage his coaching legacy forever, and no amount of ICC Trophies would be enough to paper over that aspect.
And in these trying circumstances, Pant will take up leadership in the absence of Gill. He would know quite well that his batting on a red soil Barsapara track will be as important as his decision-making.
That Gill was never in contention to play the second Test after suffering from neck spasms was always clear, but the Indian team management and the BCCI, true to their nature of avoiding clarity till the last minute, denied the inevitable till it became undeniable. According to reliable sources, the 26-year-old has left the city to rest and recuperate.
Sai Sudharsan looks to be the most likely candidate to take Gill's place, although whether he bats at No.3 or Washington Sundar is allowed to continue remains to be seen.
When it comes to captaincy experience, Pant led an Indian T20 team against the same opponents a few years back when Rohit Sharma was rested. But there isn't enough data on his red-ball decision-making skills. Pant did lead a Delhi side to a Ranji Trophy final back in 2017, losing to eventual champions Vidarbha.
However, what would keep experts more interested is the calls he took on the second evening and third morning of the opening Test in Kolkata. By stumps on the second evening, India had reduced South Africa to 93 for 7 with help of spinners. What left a lot to be desired was Pant's eternal wait before handing the ball to Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah on the third morning. By that time, Temba Bavuma had added those additional 60 runs which became decisive.
While Pant, the lively chatterbox behind the stumps, is an incentive for the bowlers, it is Pant the skipper who will have to convince his coach to make some prudent calls when it comes to team selection.
With too many left-handers in the line-up &mdash; as many as seven &mdash; off-spinner Simon Harmer might just have a field day if the covering of grass that was seen on the track on Thursday is shaved off by BCCI curators Taposh Chatterjee and Ashish Bhowmick.
In any case, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia wouldn't want this venue's first ever Test to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Hence, one of the spinners &mdash; Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav &mdash; could make way for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, which can help India exploit any underlying moisture if a third seamer comes into play.
In case his bowling isn't required, being a right-hander with a cavalier approach to batting might just help on these kinds of surfaces. But in the end, it all boils down to faith in players instead of being a slave of the surface.
When it comes to trust, the head coach, for once, would like to walk the talk before another lost home series which will have way more implications than he can ever think of.
Teams (from): India: Rishabh Pant (captain and wk), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Match Starts at 9 am.

Shubman Gill has been released from India’s Test squad against South Africa due to a neck spasm sustained in the first Test. The BCCI confirmed he will focus on recovery, with his participation in the upcoming ODI series yet to be determined.

India captain Shubman Gill released from Test squad due to injury

Shubman Gill has been released from India&rsquo;s Test squad against South Africa due to a neck spasm sustained in the first Test. The BCCI confirmed he will focus on recovery, with his participation in the upcoming ODI series yet to be determined.

India captain Shubman Gill was on Friday released from the Test squad ahead of the second match against South Africa starting Saturday.
Gill suffered a neck spasm while batting in the first innings of the opening Test in Kolkata and was hospitalised after sustaining a whiplash.
"Gill has been released from the squad. He will be working on his recovery," a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Gill travelled with the team to Guwahati but the pain in his nape didn't subside completely. It remains to be seen if he can play the upcoming ODI series.
"We don't want recurrence of spasm during the game," batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said on Thursday.
South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0 after their memorable win at Eden Gardens.

India captain Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test against South Africa as he awaits a crucial fitness test following a neck spasm, with the team prepared for alternatives if he is ruled out.

Shubman Gill Faces Fitness Test Ahead of Second Test vs South Africa

Shubman Gill Fitness Doubt Before 2nd Test

India captain Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test against South Africa as he awaits a crucial fitness test following a neck spasm, with the team prepared for alternatives if he is ruled out.

India captain Shubman Gill, who has not trained due to a neck spasm sustained during the first Test against South Africa, will undergo a fitness test on Friday in a last-ditch attempt to be available for the second game, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has indicated.
Gill developed the spasm on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata that India lost by 30 runs and hasn't returned to the nets ever since. While his chances remain slim, the BCCI sports science team is waiting as long as possible before taking a final call. The second and final Test begins on Saturday.
"See, he is definitely recovering really well, because I also met him yesterday," Kotak said ahead of a practice session that Gill skipped. "Now, the decision will be taken tomorrow evening, because the physios and doctors have to decide whether, even if he is fully recovered, there's a chance of the spasm recurring during the match. That is very important."
"If there is a doubt, then I am sure he will rest for one more game because it won't help the team otherwise. A player like Shubman, and he's the captain so any team would miss him," Kotak added.
While acknowledging the impact of Gill's absence, Kotak expressed confidence in the bench strength. "But if he is missing out because of injury, we have batters and plenty of good players. They are professionals; they should come and perform for the team," Kotak said. "We all wish he plays, but if he doesn't, we will definitely have a good replacement and maybe the guy coming in will score a hundred."
In the first Test in Kolkata, Dhruv Jurel batted at No. 4 in the second innings, and Kotak did not rule out that option again, though he stressed that combinations would only be discussed after Gill's fitness test. "Jurel batted at No. 4, so he is one option. But until we know about Shubman, there is no point discussing who will play," he said. "Once we know, and once we see the wicket tomorrow, we will think about the best combination."
Kotak summed up the significance of Gill's absence in the first Test with pointed clarity. "In the last game, nobody discussed much about what our chances would have been had Shubman batted in both innings," he said. "The second innings may not have even mattered. If in the first innings he had batted and we had one partnership, with a 100-run lead, we would have been fine. That's not an excuse, but a reality that he couldn't bat in two innings."
It is learnt that Gill probably needs 10 days to fully recover and then complete his rehabilitation to be match-ready. But if he plays the Test match, the logical step for the selectors would be to rest him from the three-match ODI series against the Proteas starting November 30 in Ranchi.

India captain Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite a neck injury. BCCI to decide on his participation after medical assessment.

Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for 2nd Test: BCCI

India captain Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite a neck injury. BCCI to decide on his participation after medical assessment.

India skipper Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite his participation being in doubt due to a neck injury, the BCCI announced on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Gill suffered the injury on the second day of the first Test that India lost by 30 runs in Kolkata. He could not bat after retiring hurt in the first innings and was even hospitalised.
The second Test starts on November 22.
"Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement.
"He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly," he added, continuing the suspense over Gill's availability.
With Gill's participation highly unlikely, all-rounder Nitish Reddy has been taken out of the ongoing India A series against South Africa A in Rajkot.
The Andhra batting all-rounder reached Kolkata on Monday evening but did not take part in Tuesday's net session.
With a Test century to his name and being a right-hander, Reddy could be in contention for a place in the playing eleven at Guwahati if Gill is ruled out.

Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul and support from Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel helped India bowl out South Africa for 159 in the opening Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Jasprit Bumrah's Five-Wicket Haul Dominates South Africa in Kolkata Test

Bumrah's 5-Wicket Highlight in Kolkata Test

Jasprit Bumrah&rsquo;s five-wicket haul and support from Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel helped India bowl out South Africa for 159 in the opening Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took a five-wicket haul as India bowled out South Africa for 159 on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.&nbsp;
Bumrah's (5/27) victims included openers Aiden Makram and Ryan Rickleton, Ton de Zorzi, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj.&nbsp;
Pacer Mohammed Siraj (2/47), spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/36) and Axar Patel (1/21)shared five wickets among themseleves.&nbsp;
It was a disappointing batting performance from the visitors after winning the toss. Wiaan Mulder and de Zorzi were the joint top scorers.&nbsp;
Brief Scores: South Africa 1st innings 159 all out in 55 overs (Wiaan Mulder 24 , Toni de Zorzi 24; Jasprit Bumrah 5/27).&nbsp;

Mohammed Siraj’s brilliant double strike and clinical spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav reduced South Africa to 154/8 at tea on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens.

Siraj, Bumrah rip through South African line up as India tighten grip; visitors 154/8 at tea

Mohammed Siraj&rsquo;s brilliant double strike and clinical spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav reduced South Africa to 154/8 at tea on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens.

Mohammed Siraj's double strike added to South Africa's woes as India tightened their grip on the opening Test, reducing the visitors to 154 for eight at tea on day one at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Having conceded 34 runs in his first six overs, Siraj toiled relentlessly and finally cracked open the lower middle order with a brilliant double-wicket burst in his 10th over, removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen in the space of four balls.
Verreynne (16), who was dropped twice in the 34th over, was undone when the ball struck his pad and then bat as he tried to defend towards mid-off. South Africa reviewed for the third time in the innings and burned their final referral.
Jansen (0) received a short ball first up, but Siraj then produced a length delivery that began reversing before pitching around off, darted back sharply and went through his gate.
At the stroke of tea, Axar Patel opened his account by trapping Corbin Bosch (3) leg before wicket as India suddenly looked poised to bat on the opening day itself despite Shubman Gill losing yet another toss.
The session had begun with Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah continuing from where they had left off. The left-arm spinner continuing to ask tough questions with drift, dip and length variations, keeping the batters under constant scrutiny.
After the early losses of Temba Bavuma and the openers, Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi tried to steady the innings with circumspect batting.
Mulder applied himself for more than 50 balls, looked compact against India&rsquo;s four-pronged spin attack, but lost focus 15 minutes into the second session Attempting to break free with a reverse sweep against Kuldeep, he missed it completely and was trapped lbw.
India struck again in the third over after lunch as Bumrah, following a probing first spell of 7-4-9-2, returned to remove the in-form de Zorzi (24).
Earlier, in the morning session, Bumrah showcased his mastery with two unplayable deliveries to dismiss both thte openers, Aiden Markram (31) and Ryan Rickelton (23), after South Africa raced to 57 for no loss in 10 overs.
Kuldeep added the wicket of Bavuma (3) as India seized control before lunch and tightened the noose further by tea.

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