India vs South Africa is set for a long white-ball tour with three ODIs and five T20Is, and the squad announcement has become the main focus because several senior players are either returning, injured, or fighting for places.
Shubman Gill is likely to miss the ODI series against South Africa because of his neck injury. If Gill is ruled out of the ODI series against South Africa, India will need an alternative captain because vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is also injured.
The selectors are considering KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as the two realistic options. Rahul is the stronger favorite due to his seniority, past captaincy experience, and stability in white-ball formats. Pant is another possibility since he led India briefly in the Kolkata Test when Gill was injured, but Rahul remains the likelier choice.
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that India will not return to Rohit Sharma for this role. He believes KL Rahul is the main choice.
Kaif said,
“They will not go back to Rohit Sharma. That is done. He will deny it himself. I feel KL Rahul is an option. He has captained before and has experience as well. I feel he will lead the side in the ODI series.”
India will play three ODIs against South Africa on November 30 (Ranchi), December 3 (Raipur), and December 6 (Visakhapatnam).
Kaif also spoke about the second Test. With Gill out, he backed Sai Sudharsan to return to the XI. Sudharsan scored 126 runs in his last Test but was dropped for the first match against South Africa.
Kaif explained that, “There were many left-handers together down the order, which is also why Sundar was sent up. To break that, he went up… But I feel specialist batters should play on these tracks, and they have a better chance to do well.”
He added that the team still has uncertainty because roles and batting positions keep changing.
India vs South Africa 2025: Major Selection Calls and Series Breakdown
The ODI series of India vs South Africa starts on November 30 in Ranchi, followed by Raipur on December 3 and Visakhapatnam on December 6, and the T20Is begin on December 9 in Cuttack before moving to New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, and Lucknow and finishing in Ahmedabad on December 19.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli headline the ODI squad after scoring important runs in Australia, and this series is key for their 2027 World Cup chances. Hardik Pandya missed the Australia tour but is expected to return, while Jasprit Bumrah may be rested for the ODIs but is likely to play the T20Is.
Gillâ€s T20I place is also being questioned despite him being the vice-captain, and calls are growing to drop him after poor returns. Sanju Samson is also at risk of missing the T20Is after a disappointing Australia tour. Suryakumar Yadav continues as T20I captain, but his form remains a worry. In ODIs, Shreyas Iyerâ€s rib injury rules him out, and Pant is expected to replace him in the middle order.
Selectors are also debating whether Mohammed Shami should return, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup being in South Africa, where his bowling could be vital. Shivam Dubeâ€s recent form creates a selection clash with Hardik Pandya because India is unlikely to play both. South Africa arrived in good rhythm after beating India in the first Test in Kolkata, exposing Indiaâ€s issues on turning pitches.
FAQs
Q. Will Shubman Gill play the 2nd Test?
A. No. Shubman Gill is ruled out. His neck injury needs 5–7 days to heal, so he will miss the 2nd Test in Guwahati.
Q. Where will IND vs. SA 2025 take place?
A. The 1st ODI of the 2025 India–South Africa series is in Ranchi.
Q. Why is Temba Bavuma the captain?
A. Temba Bavuma is the captain because he led South Africa strongly in Tests. Under him, South Africa has won 10 out of 11 Test matches and has not lost a Test as captain.
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