India will have to play without its in form opening order batsman Gautam Gambhir when they take on South Africa in a 3 match series beginning on the 21st of February. R. Ashwin has been named as a new face and will be hopefully making its debut on the 21st February itself.

The player got a chance owing to his good performance in the recent domestic tournament. Another player to be rewarded for a terrific domestic season is the older of the Pathan brothers.

Yusuf Pathan had given Baroda one of the most historic wins scoring a blistering double century powered by boundaries and sixes and thus has been rewarded with a comeback. Off spinner Harbhajan Singh and explosive batsman Yuvraj Singh have not been included for the first 2 matches.

Bhajji is not picked because he has to attend his sister’s wedding while Yuvi is still nursing his hand injury he got during the Bangladesh tour. Indian selection committee headed by Krishnamachari Srikkanth on Wednesday has also included Abhishek Nayyar, the young batsman who impressed in the IPL. Praveen Kumar will also be making a comeback to the side along with Yusuf Pathan.