Shreyas Iyer back in Test squad, no place for Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara | Cricket News

Shreyas Iyer has made a return to the Indian Test side as the senior selection committee picked a strong team for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. From the team that featured in two Tests against West Indies in July, the only major name missing out is Ajinkya Rahane, who has been dropped from the side that will be led Rohit Sharma.
Post the limited-overs leg, which includes three T20Is and as many ODIs, India and South Africa are set to play two Tests at Centurion and Johannesburg on December 26 and January 3. And even though the selectors have made changes to the make-up of the limited-overs team, they have gone in with the experienced men for the Tests as India aim to win their maiden Test series win in the Rainbow Nation.
And for the first time since the 2010 Test series, India will be without Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane in the XI with the middle-order likely to be rejigged. With opener Yashasvi Jaiswal impressing in the two outings in the Caribbean, India are unlikely to bench him and instead he is likely to pair with Rohit at the top with Shubman Gill expected to bat at No 3. With Virat Kohli slotted for No 4, the No 5 will be occupied Shreyas Iyer, followed all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.
There are no surprise inclusions or omissions in the Test squad, although Kuldeep Yadav has once again been overlooked. With R Ashwin and Jadeja in the mix and the conditions suited for the seamers, the selectors have picked the squad accordingly. The pace unit will see the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj come together for the first time since the one-off Test against England in 2022.