Tilak Varma to lead India A in South Africa A one-day series; Kohli, Rohit not included

Tilak Varma has been appointed captain of the India A squad for the one-day series against South Africa A, with Ruturaj Gaikwad as vice-captain.

Tilak Varma (Source: BCCI)

India’s selectors have made a bold and strategic call by leaving out Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the India A squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against South Africa A, starting November 13 in Rajkot. The decision underlines the selectors’ intent to give younger players a platform to prove themselves in competitive conditions. Leading this fresh, dynamic squad will be Tilak Varma, one of India’s most promising young talents, with Ruturaj Gaikwad named as his deputy.

New era of youth leadership

The squad announcement is being viewed as a significant shift towards preparing India’s next generation of cricketers for international duties. The absence of senior stars like Kohli and Rohit is not due to form concerns but a deliberate attempt to manage workloads and assess the team’s depth ahead of a busy 2025–26 season.

Under Varma’s leadership, the India A team features a healthy mix of youth and experience. Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana, and Manav Suthar have all impressed in domestic and franchise cricket, earning their call-ups. Their performances in this series will be closely monitored by the selectors, who are keen on building a pool of ready replacements for the senior side.

Varma’s appointment as captain reflects the selectors’ confidence in his temperament and leadership potential. Known for his calm presence and composed batting under pressure, the 24-year-old has already made a mark in T20Is and domestic cricket. Ruturaj Gaikwad, on the other hand, brings leadership experience from his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, making him the ideal deputy.

India A’s squad for one-day series: Tilak Varma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (WK)

Where to watch the match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs South Africa, 1st Test on November 14 on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.

Also read: Ex-India cricketer compares Shubman Gill to Virat Kohli, praises his calm and maturity at the crease

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