New Delhi: The Indian cricket team got themselves a new squad member for the second test match against the South African cricket team in the ongoing two-match series in the Rainbow Nation.
According to the latest media advisory released by BCCI, fast bowler Avesh Khan has been named as the replacement for Md. Shami has been ruled out of the series due to an injury.
Avesh Khan joins Test squad for Cape Town Test. pic.twitter.com/LdgoKjNrxO
— Vimal कुमार (@Vimalwa) December 29, 2023
As per the media advisory, Avesh Khan has been listed as Md. Shami’s replacement for the second test match against the Proteas, which is scheduled to take place at Cape Town from January 3 to January 7.
Avesh Khan had a dream run with the ball in the ODI series and is also performing well against the South Africa A side.
BCCI also released the list of the updated Indian squad for the second test match.
Indian squad for the second test:
Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (W/K), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shardul Thakur, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar, K.S Bharat, Abhimanyu Eswaran and Avesh Khan.
Netizens react
Netizens on X (Formerly known as Twitter) have given their take on the newest addition to the squad on their social media page.
Avesh Khan has been added to India’s squad for the 2nd Test against South Africa. pic.twitter.com/gSikvZkCqe
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 29, 2023
Avesh Khan! pic.twitter.com/lHYMZ6FQwE
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) December 29, 2023
Avesh Khan added to India’s squad for as a replacement for Mohd. Shami for the second Test against South Africa to be played from 3rd-7th January 2024 in Cape Town. pic.twitter.com/RVIb7UbOYL
— Sanjay Kishore (@saintkishore) December 29, 2023
Avesh Khan and Prasidh Krishna are getting chances, but BCCI sidelined one of the best bowlers of this era “Bhuvi” 💔 https://t.co/N4XAxiIStM
— Ishu (@PocketDynamoo) December 24, 2023
Do it once, you’re good. Do it twice, you’re great. Do it five times, you’re Avesh Khan for India ‘A’ 🔥🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/c7OJjhwBb0
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) December 28, 2023
🚨
Avesh Khan has been added to India’s Test squad for the second Test against South Africa in the absence of Mohammed Shami. #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/C8qMXaGuGW
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 29, 2023
Avesh Khan ↔️ 2nd Test 🇮🇳🔥 pic.twitter.com/r5pd9uxz0A
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) December 29, 2023
First test summary
India, who won the ODI series and levelled the T20I series against, walked into the test series with the dream of winning their first-ever test series in the Rainbow nation.
However, the Proteas, with their all-round performance, dismantled the whole Indian team, as they won the first test match by a huge margin of an innings and 32 runs.
Indian batting flopped in both innings, as except for KL Rahul (101) in the first innings and Virat Kohli (76) in the second innings, no other batsmen were able to put up a fight against the South African pace battery.
Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger took seven wickets each. Marco Jensen took 4, while Gerald Coetzee also took one wicket for himself.
Dean Elgar (185), was elected as the man of the match for his incredible innings on a tough batting surface.