NEW DELHI: Indian cricketers received a warm welcome as they arrived in Durban for the upcoming multi-format series against South Africa, starting with the first T20I on Sunday.
The fans at the airport welcomed the Men in Blue and took pictures with them as they touched down in the Rainbow Nation.
In a video that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared on X, players can be seen being greeted cordially by hotel workers when they arrive at a South African airport.
A three-match Twenty20 International series will begin the all-format tour of South Africa on Sunday and run through December 14. The white-ball series' ODI phase will begin on December 17 and run through September 21.
The clip featured the Men in Blue, which included Mohammed Siraj, head coach Rahul Dravid, Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Senior players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and captain Rohit Sharma will miss the white-ball phase of the all-format series. The top T20I batsman, Suryakumar Yadav, will captain the T20I team, while KL Rahul will captain the ODI team. Call-ups for the ODI team have gone to young players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Sai Sudarshan, and Rajat Patidar.
The two-match Test series, which will see the first Test held in Centurion starting on December 26 and the second Test in Cape Town starting on January 3, will include the comeback of senior players. Since India hasn't won a Test series in South Africa, Indian supporters will be most anticipating this red-ball leg of the series.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday announced their squads against India for the multi-format series at home, beginning from Sunday.
1/10:India vs South Africa: Three formats, three captains
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2/10:India vs South Africa
<p>India named three skippers for South Africa tour next month, with Rohit Sharma leading the two Tests, Suryakumar Yadav for the T20Is and KL Rahul for the ODIs. </p>Getty Images
3/10:Multi-format tour
<p>The tour, which opens on December 10 with a T20 in Durban and is set to run until January 7, includes three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests, the BCCI said.</p>Getty Images
4/10:Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
<p>The BCCI said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had asked for a break from the white-ball leg of the tour.</p>Getty Images
5/10:Mohammed Shami
<p>Mohammed Shami is undergoing medical treatment and his availability is subject to fitness.</p>Getty Images
6/10:Pujara and Rahane
<p>India dropped Ajinkya Rahane while Cheteshwar Pujara could not force his way back in, with both seemingly at the end of their international careers. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Jaiswal and Gaikwad
<p>Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mukesh Kumar are the only players to be picked across formats.</p>Getty Images
8/10:Jasprit Bumrah
<p>Jasprit Bumrah made a comeback having last played a Test more than 17 months back, but he has been rested for white-ball cricket on this tour.</p>Getty Images
9/10:Ravindra Jadeja
<p>Axar Patel has been dropped from the T20I squad and Ravindra Jadeja has been appointed the vice-captain.</p>Getty Images
10/10:Rinku Singh
<p>Left-handed batter Rinku Singh's impressive T20I performances have earned him a maiden ODI call-up. </p>Getty ImagesFast bowler Nandre Burger and batters David Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs received their maiden call-ups to South Africa's Test squad for the India series; wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne has been recalled.
(With ANI inputs)
