The Indian cricket team was warmly greeted by enthusiastic fans upon their arrival in Durban for the upcoming multi-format series against South Africa. Amid cheers from supporters at the airport, the players engaged with fans, posing for photographs and soaking in the lively reception.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video on social media capturing the players’ arrival, showcasing their warm reception by hotel staff at a South African airport.
South Africa bound ✈️🇿🇦#TeamIndia are here 👌👌#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/V2ES96GDw8
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 7, 2023
The series is set to commence with a three-match T20I series starting on Sunday and running until December 14. Following this, the white-ball action will continue with the ODI leg scheduled from December 17 to December 21.
Notably, senior players including skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah will be absent for the white-ball segment. Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul will lead the T20I and ODI teams, respectively, while new faces like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Sai Sudarshan, and Rajat Patidar have earned call-ups for the ODI squad.
The anticipation peaks for the subsequent test series, where seniors are set to return. The first test will commence in Centurion on December 26, followed by the second test in Cape Town on January 3, 2024. India, seeking their first Test series win in South Africa, aims to make an impact in the red-ball leg.
On the other side, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced their squads, introducing newcomers Nandre Burger, David Bedingham, and Tristan Stubbs, and recalling Kyle Verreynne in the Test squad against India.
India’s squads for the series were also revealed, with Rohit Sharma leading the Test team and Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli featuring in the T20I and ODI squads, respectively, showcasing a blend of experience and new talent for the challenging series ahead.