South Africa have picked Andile Simelane, who has a record of less than 50 wickets from 53 professional matches, for their T20I squad to face India. Here's all you need to know about the 21-year-old.
Simelane is one of two uncapped all-rounders in the squad, Mihlali Mpongwana being the other. South Africa will play India in four T20Is starting at the end of next week (November 8), with the series concluding on November 15 in Johannesburg.
Simelane made his List A debut as a teenager in 2020, playing for KwaZulu-Natal Inland in the CSA Provincial One Day Challenge. He impressed in that game, taking three wickets in four overs. A T20 debut came the following year before he made his first-class debut for Dolphins last year, batting in the lower middle order as well as taking two wickets with the ball.
In November 2021, Simelane was named as part of South Africa's seam-bowling attack in the 2022 U19 World Cup. He took four wickets in six games as South Africa reached the quarter-finals before they were knocked out by England. Dewald Brevis and Kwena Maphaka were his fellow squad members in that tournament.
Despite limited senior exposure, Simelane was picked up by Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the 2024 SA20, but did not play a game. He was retained in their squad for the 2025 season. In total, Simelane has played 53 professional matches in his young career, taking 46 wickets, 21 of which came in T20Is. While he averages 56.85 and 35.50 with the ball in first-class and List A cricket respectively, his T20 average is a more respectable 17.57. He also bats at No.8 for Dolphins in T20s.
This year, Simelane was picked in South Africa's ODI and T20I sides to face Afghanistan, following outings for South Africa A. He did not find a place in the XI. The series against India, however, which will not feature Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada or Anrich Nortje, will be an opportunity to press his case, with a packed calendar of white-ball international cricket on the horizon.
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