Pre-Test South Africa Games Lined Up: Ashwin, Rahane on Early Tour

In preparation for the upcoming Test series in South Africa, seasoned Indian cricketers Ravi Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane are likely to travel early, joining the Indian A team for crucial first-class matches against South Africa A. BCCI plans to have several warm-up games before the Test series, prioritizing the players' game time.

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Senior cricketers Ravi Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane are set to make an early journey to South Africa as part of the Indian A team's strategy. This move precedes the Test series, aiming to fine-tune their skills through three key first-class games against South Africa A. India's Test series against South Africa looms closer, scheduled for December and January, marking a pivotal moment in the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

Reports from PTI indicate that the Indian A team will engage in three significant four-day matches against South Africa A, simulating the conditions before the main Test series kicks off. This proactive approach aligns with BCCI's standard practice, though it was briefly interrupted after the Bangladesh tour due to the ODI World Cup focus.

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A BCCI source confirmed the plan for three four-day Tests in South Africa, emphasizing the inclusion of consistent young performers and seniors requiring game time ahead of the Centurion and Cape Town Test matches. Additionally, players like Abhimanyu Easwaran, B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Dhull, Kona Bharat, Upendra Yadav, and Saurabh Kumar are anticipated for the tour games. The potential participation of Ashwin, Rahane, and Jaydev Unadkat in at least one of the three games remains to be seen.

Looking ahead, BCCI aims to organize five to six first-class games for India's A side between December and January. This strategic planning aligns with India's packed schedule, featuring seven Test matches in the upcoming four months, including contests against South Africa and England. Prioritizing ample preparation, three first-class games are scheduled before the South Africa tour, with an additional possibility of two to three games against England Lions preceding the home series against England.