A 30-year-old star will serve as India’s vice-captain during two-match Test series against South Africa. Picture Credit: X
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India will face South Africa in a two-match Test series.
- The series opener is scheduled to take place at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
- Rohit Sharma will lead India in the two Tests.
The two-match Test series between India and South Africa is off the mark with a Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Rohit Sharma is back in the Indian team and is leading the side. India has never managed to win a Test series in South Africa so far, and under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the world No. 1 Test team is aiming to create history this time. For the two-match series against South Africa, India has appointed a 30-year-old star as vice captain of the team.
The star cricketer, who was named Rohit Sharma’s deputy, hasn’t played a Test match for India since July 2022, and interestingly, in his last Test, the star cricketer led the side as well. The veteran of 30 Tests who is appointed as India’s vice captain for the South Africa series is none other than star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah, who made his Test debut for India against South Africa in Cape Town on January 5, 2018, will be Rohit’s deputy. He was preferred over KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Rahul served as India’s captain in the three-match ODI series against the Proteas but will only play as wicketkeeper-batter in the two Tests. Jadeja was India’s vice captain in the T20I series, but with the return of Rohit and Bumrah, he was not given any additional responsibility.
Rohit missed India’s last Test tour of South Africa in 2021–22 due to an injury, but this time, after a much-deserved break, he is back for India and is looking to become the first Indian captain to win a Test series in South Africa.
Apart from Rohit, there will be high expectations from Bumrah as well. The 30-year-old pacer was in red-hot form for India in the ODI World Cup 2023, and in the absence of Mohammed Shami, he will have added responsibilities in South Africa, where he has some very fond memories of playing Test matches.
