South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma and pace ace Kagiso Rabada have been rested for the white-ball leg of this month’s home series against India. The Proteas will host India for a full series, consisting of three T20Is, as many ODIs, and two Tests, starting on December 10 in Durban. Cricket South Africa stated that Bavuma and Rabada, along with other players, have been omitted from the white-ball leg in order to focus on red-ball cricket and prepare for the Test series. Both teams are preparing for the new World Test Championships cycle, with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion on December 26 being the first match.

In the absence of Bavuma, Aiden Markram will lead South Africa in the white-ball fixtures. Wicketkeeper-batter Tristan Stubbs, who has played 1 ODI and 16 T20Is, has been included in the Test side for the first time, while Heinrich Klaasen has been left out. Pacers Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi have also been left out of the ODIs, as the priority is now on the Test series. However, they are part of the squad for the opening two T20Is and subsequently, the two Test matches.

Both South Africa and India have included several new faces in their ODI squads, with valuable World Test Championship points at stake and the T20 World Cup on the horizon. Uncapped duo Ottniel Baartman and Mihlali Mpongwana have been named in South Africa’s ODI squad, along with batter David Bedingham and pacer Nandre Burger, who have earned their maiden national call-ups.