With the announcement of their T20I squad for the New Zealand series, India also announced an ‘A’ team squad for the tour of South Africa. India ‘A’ will play three unofficial Tests against South Africa ‘A’ at Bloemfontein. This series is all set to begin from November 23. Let’s take a look at what can be garnered from the selected squad.

Prithvi Shaw is back

While, India usually sends some of their Test specialists and understudies for an A tour, this wasn’t possible due to the India-New Zealand Test series. Still, there is something to be read in Prithvi Shaw’s selection for this tour rather than the T20I series against the Black Caps. Shaw found himself out of favour during the Australia series last year, when he looked like he couldn’t buy a run.

However, the Mumbai batter looked in great touch during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021, and the IPL. In the absence of any first-class cricket over the last year and a half, India’s selectors chose to back players who had previously been a part of the ‘A’ setup, and those with decent first-class records. Shaw, who has been hailed as the next Lara, Sehwag, and Sachin in one go by India’s former coach, is clearly seen as a talent good enough for the longer format.

A decent run in South Africa, can help him secure a spot in the Indian Test squad.

A new keeping option

Former Uttar Pradesh keeper Upendra Yadav, who recently shifted to Railways, makes it to the India ‘A’ side as the designated wicketkeeper. This is a move away from Srikhar Bharat, but it is quite possible that India might want an extra reserve keeper in Bharat for the New Zealand Tests.

Upendra had a brilliant Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 for UP (285 runs at 71.25) and scored 385 runs at 55 in the most recent Ranji Trophy.

The back-up pace options

India’s new pace sensation Umran Malik has been fast-tracked to the national red-ball setup after his scintillating display in this IPL, which saw him hit the 150 kph mark on a number of occasions. Malik has played just nine games in professional cricket and will likely be making his first-class debut in South Africa.

Another bowler who finds himself in the mix is Arzan Nagwaswalla, the Gujarat left-arm pacer, who was one of the reserves for India during the England tour earlier this year. In the near future, India won’t mind a bit of variety in their attack, and a left-armer might just be what they are looking for. Navdeep Saini, too, is a part of the pace attack.

Old names miss out

There was a sense that the new India coach will leave his stamp on the set-up, and this can be seen in the squads selected so far. Rahul Chahar though not in the T20I squad finds solace in the form of an India ‘A’ call-up.

But, certain players like Sandeep Warrier, Shahbaz Nadeem and Vijay Shankar, who were a part of the India ‘A’ setup when they toured New Zealand, and some former India players such as Karun Nair and Jaydev Unadkat, failed to make it to the India A squad. This, in spite of showing some great form in their last domestic appearances, might mean that they are not in the team management’s radars as of present.