Mumbai, Dec 17 (Agency) Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has requested BCCI to release him from India’s squad for the South Africa Tests. Kishan has cited personal reasons for his withdrawal, which BCCI have accepted. Kishan made his Test debut in July this year and has featured in two Tests, both against West Indies. The news comes after Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the Test series after not being cleared by the BCCI medical team. The Men’s selection committee has named KS Bharat as a replacement for Kishan. Bharat has played five Tests for India and will be one of two wicket-keeping options in the squad along with KL Rahul.
His last assignment was in June this year when India faced Australia in a Test series, an ICC report said. The two-match Test series begins with the Boxing Day Test at the Centurion. The second Test will be played between January 3 and 7, 2024 in Cape Town. India’s tour of South Africa began with a three-match T20I series, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The three-match ODI series is ongoing. India’s squad for Tests: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk) Test schedule: December 26 to 30 – 1st Test, SuperSport Park, Centurion January 3 to 7, 2024 – 2nd Test, Newlands, Cape Town.