All-rounder Hardik Pandya, out since September with injury, has returned to the India squad for this month's Twenty20 series against South Africa, while Shubman Gill will have to pass a fitness test to play, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday.
Senior batsman KL Rahul will captain India in the upcoming three one-day internationals against South Africa in the absence of injured Shubman Gill as the selectors announced the team Sunday.
India will not play skipper Shubman Gill in the second Test against South Africa on Saturday if it risks aggravating his neck injury, a team coach said.
Top-order batsman Gill felt pain in his neck after scoring a boundary on the second day on Saturday in Kolkata and left the field.
Persistent rain forced the opening Twenty20 clash between Australia and India to be abandoned on Wednesday, leaving Suryakumar Yadav stranded on 39 and Shubman Gill on 37.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir heaped praise on Shubman Gill's leadership following their 2-0 Test series sweep against West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
The tourists were 140-4 at stumps, still trailing India by 378 runs at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.
"Physically most of the time I feel fine, but sometimes there is mental fatigue because when you are constantly playing," Gill told reporters.
Rohit, 38, and fellow stalwart Virat Kohli, 36, were both named in the squad for the three-match series beginning on October 19.
The tourists were 140-4 at stumps, still trailing India by 378 runs at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.
"Physically most of the time I feel fine, but sometimes there is mental fatigue because when you are constantly playing," Gill told reporters.
Rohit, 38, and fellow stalwart Virat Kohli, 36, were both named in the squad for the three-match series beginning on October 19.
Opener KL Rahul hit an unbeaten century and together with skipper Shubman Gill steered a dominant India into a 56-run lead over the West Indies on day two of the first Test on Friday.
Shubman Gill's India will be heavy favourites when they play a home two-Test series starting Thursday against a West Indies side struggling with injuries and a pale shadow of the team that once dominated cricket.
A group of Australian players have been the big winners on the newest release of the ICC Men's ODI Player rankings.
Former India coach Greg Chappell hailed India’s young squad under Shubman Gill for proving their mettle during a transitional phase, saying they have shown they are more than capable of stepping into the shoes of their decorated predecessors.
If Test cricket is the sporting equivalent of a literary epic, the five-match Test series between England and India was its Iliad -- a battle of two groups of warriors which will go down in history as a tale of valour, heroism and sheer audacity.
He finished the five-match series in England with a chart-topping 23 wickets, the highest for any bowler.
"There are moments like this when you feel the journey is worth it," Gill said at the post-match press conference.
