Indian cricketer Ishan Kishan has withdrawn from the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa due to personal reasons, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. In his absence, KS Bharat, the current India ‘A’ skipper in South Africa, has been named as his replacement. This announcement follows the recent exclusion of fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury.
The BCCI released a statement saying, “Ishan Kishan has requested to be released from the upcoming Test series against South Africa citing personal reasons. The wicketkeeper has subsequently been withdrawn from the Test squad. The men’s selection committee has named KS Bharat as a replacement.”
KS Bharat returned to the Test Squad.
Bharat, who stepped in for Rishabh Pant after his absence following a car accident in December 2022, now returns to the Test squad. Despite being the first-choice wicketkeeper for five consecutive Test matches, including the World Test Championship final in June, Bharat struggled to make a significant impact with the bat, leading to Kishan taking over the role.
With Kishan out, KL Rahul is set to take on the wicketkeeping duties in the upcoming Boxing Day Test match. This marks Rahul’s first time donning the keeping gloves in Test cricket. Addressing speculation about his evolving role, Rahul stated, “I’ll be wicketkeeping and batting in the middle order. After that, yes, I would be happy to take up that role even in the Test matches.”
The Test series against South Africa is scheduled to consist of two matches, with the first match taking place from December 26–30 and the second from January 3–7, 2024. The SuperSport Park in Centurion will host the opening Test, followed by the second Test at Newlands. As the Indian team adjusts to these changes, the focus remains on delivering a competitive performance in the upcoming series against the Proteas.
