Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named the Proteas squads for the all-format inbound tour against India from 10 December – 07 January.

The tour, also known as the Freedom Series, comprises of three T20 Internationals (T20Is), three One-Internationals (ODIs) and two Test matches. 

Western Province trio Mihlali Mpongwana, David Bedingham and Nandre Burger have earned their maiden call-ups to the national set-up. 

Fast bowler Burger is rewarded for his outstanding all-round form this season by being named in all three squads, while batter Bedingham is picked in the Test squad. All-rounder Mpongwana, meanwhile, has been named in the ODI squad following a successful CSA Division 1 One-Day Cup campaign where he recorded his maiden List A ton and took 3/32 in the final against North West Dragons in October.

Warriors batter Tristan Stubbs has been included in the Test squad for the first time. The 23-year-old, who is already capped in both white-ball formats, impressed with his 117 for South Africa A against Sri Lanka earlier this year and most recently struck 130 against Lions in the last round of CSA 4-Day Domestic Series matches.

Province wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne has been recalled to the ODI and Test squads. The 26-year-old last featured for the Proteas in the Test series against Australia in January and has since led Province to the One-Day Cup title and enjoyed success in this season’s four-day competition with 275 runs in three matches at an average of 68.75 and a top score of 150.

Other notable selections include Dolphins seam bowler Ottniel Baartman in the white-ball squads and Lions all-rounder Wiaan Mulder in the ODI and Test squads. 

ODI captain Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada are amongst a group of players that have been omitted for the white-ball leg of the tour in order to play red-ball cricket as emphasis is placed on the Test series for which both will return.

Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi will miss the 3rd T20I and ODI series and will instead, together with Bavuma and Rabada, play in the round of first-class matches for their respective domestic teams from 14 - 17 December in preparation for the Test series.

T20I captain Aiden Markram will captain the ODI side in Bavuma’s absence. 

Titans fast bowler Lizaad Williams suffered a groin strain during this past weekend’s four-day match against Province. He will undergo further medical assessments this week to determine the extent of the injury. 

Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje (lower back stress fracture) and Wayne Parnell (left shoulder) were not considered for selection as they are still undergoing rehabilitation for their respective injuries. 

The T20I squad will get together in Durban on Thursday, 07 December. 

Proteas T20I squad against India

Aiden Markram (captain, Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Titans, 1st and 2ndT20Is), Donovan Ferreira (Titans), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Marco Jansen (Warriors, 1st and 2nd T20Is), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), David Miller (Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Titans, 1st and 2nd T20Is), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), and Lizaad Williams (Titans). 

Proteas ODI squad against India

Aiden Markram (captain, Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Dolphins), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), David Miller (Dolphins), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Western Province) and Lizaad Williams (Titans). 

Proteas Test squad against India

Temba Bavuma (captain, Lions), David Bedingham (Western Province), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Dean Elgar (Titans), Marco Jansen (Warriors), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Keegan Petersen (Rocks), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors) and Kyle Verreynne (Western Province).

“We are excited to announce the latest squad of players who will represent the Proteas in white-ball cricket against India in the coming weeks,” limited-overs head coach, Rob Walter, said. “After an excellent overall showing at the recently concluded ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, we want to capitalise on that momentum and continue building on our core group during this Freedom Series.

“We have a busy summer ahead starting with the T20Is and then ODIs against India and we have therefore taken the decision to omit several of our senior players. This decision was taken together with coach Shukri as we place emphasis on the red-ball leg of the tour meaning they will instead be preparing for the Test series by playing domestic cricket. In saying that, the move has presented opportunities for others that have been performing well on domestic level to be drafted in.

“We are looking forward to seeing what they can do, the likes of Nandre Burger, the leading wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup as well as Donovan Ferreira and Mihlali Mpongwana. We also have others back in the national fold such as Wiaan Mulder and Ottniel Baartman, so it is exciting to see how they will get on. 

“We are anticipating a very good series against a strong India team and cannot wait to get started in Durban on Sunday.”

Test head coach Shukri Conrad added: “It is the start of a new ICC World Test Championship cycle and that itself is a huge incentive for everyone. The playing field is level and we want to try and ensure we make a strong start to this sequence here at home against one of the best teams in the world.

“We have a near full-strength squad to pick from and that in itself is a real boost for us. We have also added some new and exciting faces such as David Bedingham, Nandre Burger and Tristan Stubbs, who make the Test squad for the first time. There are others that are also back in the fold after going back to their unions and returning with impressive performances.

“Overall we believe this group has all the attributes to deliver on our objective, which is to maintain our proud record against India in South Africa.”

Tour itinerary

T20I Series

Sunday, 10 December 

South Africa vs India - Kingsmead, Durban 

Tuesday, 12 December

South Africa vs India – St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Thursday, 14 December

South Africa vs India - Wanderers, Johannesburg   

ODI Series

Sunday, 17 December - Pink Day 

South Africa vs India - Wanderers, Johannesburg   

Tuesday, 19 December 

South Africa vs India – St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Thursday, 21 December

South Africa vs India - Boland Park, Paarl 

Test Series

26 December – 30 December 

South Africa vs India - SuperSport Park, Centurion

03 January – 07 January  

South Africa vs India - Newlands, Cape Town