The India star has been dropped from the squad to face South Africa in the first Test starting on November 14 (Images via Getty) All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been dropped from the Indian squad for the first Test against South Africa starting on November 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The decision was announced through a media advisory issued by the BCCI on Wednesday. Reddy will join the India A team for the upcoming one-day series against South Africa A in Rajkot, scheduled from November 13 to 19 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. He is expected to rejoin the senior team for the second Test in Guwahati after the conclusion of the ‘A’ series.
Ryan Ten Doeschate press conference: On India Playing XI, Dhruv Jurel, workload management and more
The move comes at a time when India are fine-tuning their combination ahead of the crucial two-Test series against the reigning world Test champions. India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that the management had a clear plan for the opening match. “I think we have a pretty good idea of the combination,” Ten Doeschate said at the pre-match press conference in Kolkata. He also suggested that team balance and conditions affected selections. “The primary thing is to strategize to win the match. Nitish did not get much game time in Australia and given the importance of this series and the conditions we expect, he may miss this week,” explained Ten Doeschate. The coach further confirmed that batsman Dhruv Jurel, who has been in excellent form, will feature in the playing eleven alongside Rishabh Pant. Jurel recently hit back-to-back centuries for India A against South Africa A, strengthening his position in the team.
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India’s updated squad for the first Test includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mo Akmashep Sidav, Yashasvi Yaiswal, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel Jurel. The South Africa series marks visitors India’s first Test tour since 2019, when the hosts won 3-0. The two-Test series will be followed by three ODIs and five T20Is. With both teams looking to strengthen their positions in the World Test Championship rankings, the contest promises to be intense.
