BCCI has chosen an up-and-coming fast cricket playing Indian A squad for three unofficial one-day matches against the South African A team, with Tilak Varma appointed as captain and Ruturaj Gaikwad as vice-captain. The series is planned to take place in Rajkot and is part of the South Africa A tour of India; thus, it is scheduled for mid-November, during which the next wave of players will gain international-style experience.
With this choice, the board’s intention becomes clear: to rest the senior stars and to expedite the next crop of players who might soon be considered for the senior Indian teams. It is worth mentioning that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not in the India A squad. The selectors have gone for a relatively young and elastic group that mixes up attacking batting options with different bowling choices. The move is developmental by nature: the selectors want the players to be exposed to game situations and leadership roles before they get bigger assignments.
India A Squad (India A v South Africa A, 3 × Unofficial ODIs)
Tilak Varma (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Prabhsimran Singh (wk).
This is a balanced characters mix. There are some comments on the major choices and positions:
• Tilak Varma (captain): A left-handed batsman who is already considered as the coming leader in the white-ball development teams. He will have to demonstrate his tactical ability and also the right character for the captaincy.
• Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-captain): A well-acquainted player in the domestic scene who not only provides young but also leads with his experience support to the top order.
• Ishan Kishan & Prabhsimran Singh: The duo of keepers/finishers who present each with a different skill set — the power of Kishan and the stability of Prabhsimran in the middle order.
• Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed: A diverse and fast bowlers’ group which will be at one time left-arm and right-arm, with experienced death bowlers and just simple but fast bowlers — all these are helpful in Rajkot’s conditions.
Also read: IND vs SA Test 2025: India Announce 15 Member Squad for Two Match Series Against South Africa
Why this series matters
The issue of India A versus South Africa A is not limited to the three unofficial ODIs but rather a perfect opportunity to map out bench strength and experiment with the leaders under real match conditions. Among others, Tilak, Riyan Parag, Harshit Rana and Vipraj Nigam can be regarded as the ones who are now in a position to claim their spots in the Indian squad, provided they do well. The series is also an opportunity for the staff to assess fitness, temperament, and tactical flexibility.
Schedule and Venue
The three one-day matches in mid-November as part of the South Africa A tour itinerary will take place at the Niranjan Shah Stadium (Rajkot). The exact dates of the matches are part of the tour program that has been announced by the BCCI and host boards.
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st Unofficial ODI | 13 Nov 2025 | Niranjan Shah Stadium (Rajkot) |
| 2nd Unofficial ODI | 16 Nov 2025 | Niranjan Shah Stadium (Rajkot) |
| 3rd Unofficial ODI | 19 Nov 2025 | Niranjan Shah Stadium (Rajkot) |
Final Word
The decision of the selectors to rest Kohli and Rohit for this A series is a clear indication of their long-term thinking. The main objective is to sharpen a larger pool of white-ball players and give them the experience of leadership and overseas conditions. The Rajkot matches should be keenly watched by fans as the next big name in Indian cricket could come out of this squad.
Written By:- Manjunath S