India vs SA T20Is: Umesh Yadav, Iyer and Shahbaz Added to Indian Squad

Mohammed Shami who was ruled out due to COVID-19 announced via Instagram that he had tested negative soon after.

Shreyas Iyer is among the players added to the Indian team for the South Africa series.

Image: BCCI 

The trio of pacer Umesh Yadav, batter Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed was on Wednesday added to India's squad for the three-match T20 series against South Africa, starting Wednesday.

Senior pacer Mohammad Shami had missed the recently-concluded T20 series against Australia after contracting COVID-19 infection and won't be a part of the T20 matches against the Proteas.

Deepak Hooda has also been ruled out of the series owing to a back injury. The all-rounder is at the NCA for "further management of his injury".

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Umesh Yadav as Shami's replacement and Shreyas Iyer as a replacement for Hooda," a BCCI release stated.

"Shahbaz Ahmed has also been added to the T20I squad," it added.

Umesh was brought in as Shami's replacement in the series against Australia. He has competed in the series-opener but did not play the second and third T20Is.

On the other hand, left-arm spin-all-rounder Shahbaz is still uncapped. He was picked in the Indian ODI squad as Washington Sundar's replacement for the Zimbabwe series in August but did not get a game.

Rookie pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was rested for the series against Australia, has linked up with the squad for the three T20Is.

The series against South Africa will serve as a final dress rehearsal for both side ahead of the marquee event in Australia next month.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya and senior seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have been rested for the series ahead of the T20 World Cup next month, have also reported to the NCA for "conditioning-related work".

Revised India squad for South Africa T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and Shahbaz Ahmed.

Shami Tests Negative for COVID-19

In a recent development, India pacer Mohammed Shami on Wednesday tested negative for COVID-19, over 10 days after he had been infected by the virus. 

The 32-year-old posted his negative report on his Instagram account, hours after the BCCI named veteran pacer Umesh Yadav as his replacement for the three-match T20I series against South Africa. 

"Negative," Shami wrote along with a picture of his COVID test report. 

The senior India pacer had tested positive for the virus on 17 September. 

Mohammed Shami offered an update on his current condition via his official Instagram handle. 

(Photo: Instagram/Mohammed Shami)

He was subsequently ruled out of the recently concluded three-match series against Australia. 

Earlier in the day, the pacer had been ruled out of the T20s against South Africa with the BCCI saying he is "yet to attain full recovery from COVID-19."

Shami, who hasn't played any cricket after England series in July, had been brought back into the T20 mix when he was picked for the games against Australia and South Africa. 

He has been named as a stand-by for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month