The uncapped George Linde has replaced fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Jon-Jon Smuts in the Proteas squad for this month’s T20I series against India.

Smuts has been withdrawn from the squad after failing to meet the team’s fitness requirements.

Linde is currently part of South Africa A’s tour of India. He struck a brisk half-century in the second limited-overs fixture and took two key wickets in the third, but the tourists lost both matches.

The left-arm spinner will play for the Cape Town Blitz in the second edition of the Mzansi Super League later this year. He was effectively retained by the Blitz for R200,000 in round eight of this week’s MSL player draft.

India and South Africa will contest three T20Is in Dharamsala, Mohali and Bengaluru from 15-22 September. Three Tests in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi will follow.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will captain the T20I team. Batsman Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje and spinner Bjorn Fortuin, who have not been capped at T20I level, have also been included.

Squad: Quinton de Kock (c), Rassie van der Dussen (v-c), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde.

Photo: Gallo Images