Batsman Kyle Verreynne’s stature continued to grow this week with his inclusion in the Proteas squad for this month’s ODI series against India.

Verreynne welcomed a promising ODI debut against Australia at Boland Park in Paarl last week, striking 48 in a comfortable victory for the hosts.

He has since been named in a strong squad, which also includes the returning Rassie van der Dussen and Faf du Plessis, for March’s three ODIs in Lucknow, Kolkata and Dharamsala.

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‘You always dream of playing against the good teams, so Australia for my debut was very special and now the chance to play against India. I’m really excited,’ said Verreynne.

‘I knew the tour of India was coming up, but not if I was going to be involved or not.

‘It’s weird. I don’t feel any different. Obviously being a part of the squad is exciting, but nothing has really changed.

‘I’m still going about things the way I do, day to day. There are obviously a lot more things going on, and there are a lot more people contacting me, so that’s been a bit of a change.’

The 22-year-old Verreynne has graduated through the ranks at Cape Town Cricket Club, South Africa U19, Cape Town Blitz, Western Province and Cape Cobras. He fell two runs short of becoming the 10th Proteas cricketer to score 50 on ODI debut on Saturday.

‘I would have liked to have gotten 50, but if you told me the day before that I was going to get 48, I would have taken it with both hands,’ he added.

‘It’s something that I’ve always dreamt of, playing for South Africa. It was a really special day. It was nice to be on the winning side in my first game.

‘Coach Mark Boucher, I obviously looked up to him as a kid and Quinton de Kock I watched growing up and they are guys you dream to be like.’

The second ODI will be played at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

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