IND vs SA | Shahbaz Nadeem added to India squad for Ranchi Test

Although Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are two certainties for the third Test and the probability of Kuldeep Yadav playing the third Test was almost next to zero, it has opened a door of possibility for local lad Shahbaz Nadeem. Nadeem, who has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket having 424 scalps at an average of just over 28 in first-class cricket so far in his career, will join the team ahead of the third Test.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added left-arm spinner Mr Shahbaz Nadeem to India’s Test squad for the third and final Paytm Test against South Africa. The decision to add Nadeem was made after Mr Kuldeep Yadav complained of left shoulder pain on Friday," MSK Prasad, Chairman, Senior Selection Committee, BCCI, said in a press release.

In the last domestic season, Nadeem was among the wickets, taking 37 scalps in four-day cricket with his slow left-arm orthodox bowling. His 15 wickets during India A's tour of West Indies this year also helped his cause. As far as batting goes, Nadeem is a useful batsman lower down the order, having scored seven fifties and one century in first-class games.

India’s squad for 3rd Test: Virat Kohli (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shahbaz Nadeem