Team India have a few wicketkeeping options in the run-up to T20 World Cup to try and finalise. Two of them, Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma will be getting opportunities in the Afghanistan series. However, Sunil Gavaskar, let alone these two, didn't even consider Ishan Kishan as one of the options.

KL Rahul was not recalled into the Indian squad set to take on Afghanistan in an upcoming T20I series. He was among the senior pros along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to have not played a T20I since World Cup 2022. However, Rohit and Kohli are now back in the team.

India cricketer KL Rahul has been one of the vital players in India's line-up over the last few years. He has played a lot of memorable knocks so far but is yet to win a World Cup across any format. He is still hurting with the World Cup final loss on November 19 to Australia.

South Africa landed a knockout punch on India as they won the Boxing Day Test in Centurion within three days. It was an abject surrender from the Indian team with both bat and ball as they first conceded a 163-run lead and then were folded for just 131 with Virat Kohli putting up some fight.

KL Rahul's transformation from an opening batter to a middle-order enforcer was completed on the second day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa. After having a smashing World Cup as wicketkeeper batter at No.6, Rahul smashed a ton on his debut as a keeper in Tests.

South Africa dominated the proceedings on the second day of the Boxing Day Test as they not only took a lead against India but they still have half their side left and a set Dean Elgar batting on 140. Earlier, KL Rahul completed his century to give India a respectable score on board of 245.

Gerald Coetzee despite bowling well didn't get enough rewards before finally getting Mohammed Siraj as his only wicket in the first innings against India in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. However, Coetzee was unhappy in the dying minutes of the innings when the wicketkeeper gave away an easy bye.

KL Rahul came out to bat at number six for India in the ongoing first Test against South Africa and propelled the team's total to 245 runs. He smashed his eighth Test ton scoring 101 runs before being the last batter to get out.

IND vs SA 1st Test: KL Rahul powered India to 245 with a sensational hundred on Day 2 of the first Test in Centurion. The wicket-keeper batter has scored his second hundred at the venue after his first came two years back.

IND vs SA 1st Test: KL Rahul batted extremely well in challenging conditions on the opening Day of the first Test between India and South Africa. From being 92/4, he took India to 208/8 at stumps on Day 1. Rahul's unbeaten fifty sees him join the likes of MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant.

"So maybe somebody with Rahane's experience overseas... because Rahane overseas has been such a fine, fine player and maybe if he had been there today the story could have been completely different," Sunil Gavaskar said during commentary on the official broadcast.

The returning South African pacer Kagiso Rabada took five wickets to dominate the opening day of the first Test match against India at Centurion's SuperSport Park. KL Rahul's unbeaten 70 runs helped India score 208/8 in 59 overs as rain ended Day 1's play early.

Team India is gearing up to take on South Africa in a two-match Test series starting on December 26 in Centurion. The Rohit Sharma-led side last played a Test match in July against the West Indies and the squad has witnessed a few changes since then including a return for two World Cup stars.

India head coach confirmed that KL Rahul will don the wicketkeeping gloves in the first Test match against South Africa ahead of Ishan Kishan's replacement KS Bharat and also revealed extra bounce and seam at the SuperSport Park pitch suggesting the importance of pace bowlers.

India wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson ended his wait for a maiden international century by smashing 108 runs against South Africa in the third ODI game at Paarl's Boland Park and clinched the Player of the Match award on Thursday, December 21.

A popular Bollywood song 'Ram Siya Ram' which is also a devotional track has become a flavour in public places since it is from a film. Now, interestingly, it has become a Keshav Maharaj song in stadiums across South Africa and Indian captain KL Rahul couldn't hold himself back from pointing it out.

The star batter KL Rahul enjoyed a sensational year in ODIs with 1060 runs in just 24 innings and became the only second Indian wicketkeeper batter after MS Dhoni to score more than 1000 runs in ODIs in a calendar year.

South Africa recorded a dominant eight-wicket win in the second ODI match to level the three-match series against India at home. South Africa have never lost an ODI game against India at Boland Park and are favourites to clinch the series today.

IND vs SA: Sai Sudharsan scored an impressive fifty on his India debut as the opening batter helped India register an 8-wicket win over South Africa in the 1st ODI of a three-match series. After remaining unbeaten on 55, Sudharsan has joined an elite list of Indian players with a special record.

IND vs SA 1st ODI: KL Rahul is leading India in the ODI series against South Africa in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma. Captaincy is not new to Rahul as he has led the Men in Blue many times. Rahul has now gone past MS Dhoni in a major captaincy record.