New Delhi - India's national selectors on Monday handed a maiden Test spot to promising fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah in a 17-member squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa.
Bumrah, 23, was rewarded with a place in the Indian Test squad after taking 52 wickets from 28 one-day internationals (ODI).
The No 3 ODI bowler would boost India's pace quartet of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav on seamer friendly tracks in South Africa.
Dashing all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to the squad after opting out of the ongoing three-Test series against Sri Lanka over workload worries.
Pandya, 24, has become a key member of the Virat Kohli-led side since making his limited-overs debut last year. He has played in 30 of India's last 33 matches.
Wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel also earned a recall, having last played against England in December last year.
India will play three Tests, six one-dayers and three T20 matches during the tour of South Africa which will kick off with a warm-up game in Paarl on December 30.
Selectors meanwhile rested star batsman Kohli for the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka starting on December 20, keeping in mind the gruelling tour of South Africa.
India's Test squad for South Africa:
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, K. L. Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
India's squad for T20 series against Sri Lanka:
Rohit Sharma (captain), K. L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah, M. Siraj, Basil Thampi, Jaydev Unadkat
India's tour to SA:December 30-31 - Two-day warm-up match, Boland Park (TBC)
January 5-9 - 1st Test, Newlands
January 13-17 - 2nd Test, Centurion
January 24-28 - 3rd Test, Wanderers
February 1 - D/N 1st ODI, Kingsmead
February 4 - 2nd ODI, Centurion
February 7 - D/N 3rd ODI, Newlands
February 10 - D/N 4th ODI, Wanderers
February 13 - D/N 5th ODI, St. George's Park
February 16 - D/N 6th ODI, Centurion
February 18 - 1st T20I, Wanderers
February 21 - D/N 2nd T20I, Centurion
February 24 - D/N 3rd T20I, Newlands
The Proteas have announced plans to play a four-day Test against Zimbabwe starting on Boxing Day. What do you make of this?
