Nortje returns for India T20Is; Rickelton dropped

Anrich Nortje has been included in South Africa's T20I squad for the five-match series in India, marking the fast bowler's first international appearance since the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados. His inclusion headlines a near full-strength squad as South Africa build up to next year's T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Aiden Markram returns to lead the T20I side which also sees the addition of Ottneil Baartman and Test regulars Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Stubbs.

Temba Bavuma, who also missed the white-ball leg in Pakistan along with Markram, returns to lead the side in the ODI series, sandwiched between the Tests and the T20Is. Nortje hasn't been included for the ODIs whereas Quinton de Kock, who recently reversed his international retirements, has been included in both the squads. De Kock's presence has now left no room for Ryan Rickelton in the T20I setup.

South Africa T20I squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.

Kagiso Rabada, who's recovering from a rib injury, will return home after the Guwahati Test for his four-week rehabilitation, and hence wasn't available for selection for the white-ball leg.

"We're really looking forward to this white-ball tour for so many reasons," head coach Shukri Conrad said. "The T20I series in particular is an important opportunity for us to finalise our squad ahead of next year's T20 World Cup, which will also be played in India.

"Of course we'll miss KG [Kagiso Rabada] on this tour, but as we saw in the first Test win over India, this group has depth and that is one of our primary goals as a squad; to develop a unit filled with players who can step up at any time.

"Every time someone is unavailable, it opens the door for another player to stand up. We want to see more players stand up as we have been seeing so often over the past couple of years.

"Getting clarity on combinations and roles now is crucial as we build towards that tournament.

"It's also really good to welcome Anrich back into the T20I side after he missed the previous tours through injury. We know exactly what he brings so we're really looking forward to working with him.

"In the 50-over format, these matches will give us a clear picture of where we are as a group and what we need to keep building on as we shape the squad ahead of the 2027 World Cup."

South Africa will play the ODIs in Ranchi, Raipur and Vizag between November 30 to December 6. The T20I series, which kicks off on December 9, will be played in Cuttack, Mullanpur, Dharamsala, Lucknow and finally Ahmedabad.