India will face South Africa in a five-match T20I series, starting Thursday, June 9. A key game as the Indian team look to prepare for the T20 World Cup to be played in Australia later this year, this series will be key for many.
The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Axar and Harshal Patel who have been in and around the Indian team for some time, have a chance to repay the faith of the selectors. As the tournament approaches, India will start finalizing key positions, such as a reserve flyhalf and mid-order hitters. It would be something of an early bird offer for fringe Indian players trying to find their place in the national team, to announce that they belong with the big leagues.
In a broader sense, it would also be a look at the young players, fresh out of the Indian Premier League to put their foot forward for the next generation of the Indian team after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma walked away from the Game.
That said, the focus will be on fringe players like Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer who will be vying for a spot in the main squad.
With that in mind, here’s what to expect as India take on a strong South Africa in a matter of days.
THE UPRISING AT THE RHYTHM OF INDIA
If anyone had said a few years ago that one of the fastest and fiercest point guards would come out of India, that too after playing tennis ball cricket for most of his life, let alone the SENA countries, the Indians themselves would have laughed at the suggestion.
But it happened. For most of the IPL, Umran Malik was the fastest bowler in the tournament and he would have stayed the same were it not for Lockie Ferguson’s 157.3 mph lightning strike.
At only 22 years old, Umran Malik brings with him a lot of promise. He is fast, precise and likes to tickle the ribs of drummers. With five T20I in the bank and the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, he has the chance to impress the coaches in national colors.
Umran Malik scattering the stumps of Shreyas Iyer with an express yorker was an electrifying moment
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 15, 2022
If one were to leave Umran aside, the unit led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel looks one of the most comprehensive and promising attacks India has seen in a while. With five matches in hand, hopefully India will be able to mix and match and pick an X-factor bowler for their World Cup campaign later this year.
MEN RETURNING FROM INDIA
Controversy, charisma and cacophony are the best possible explanation of what Hardik Pandya is or rather was before making his IPL comeback with Gujarat Titans.
But that’s ancient history. Hardik Pandya, as of June 2022, is the only IPL-winning Indian captain to win the trophy with a franchise on his debut.
And it’s not a fluke. With meticulous planning and execution, Hardik Pandya and GT dominated the Indian Premier League. And to top it off, Pandya’s overall performance won them the final at Narendra Modi Stadium against Rajasthan Royals.
Hardik Pandya is a certainty in the T20 WC team, but then what happens to Dinesh Karthik?
The 37-year-old veteran lit up the IPL to everyone’s surprise and worked his way into the Indian squad. A fan favourite, Karthik is hoping to secure a clear role in the squad so he can strengthen his position as a specialist finisher ahead of the World Cup.
! @DineshKarthik was the player of the match in the very first T20I of , against in 2006!
Send your to DK & #TeamIndia as they prepare to #ChaseTheRecord of 13 consecutive victories for the T20I at the Paytm T20I Trophy #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/iKxTGdr67m
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 6, 2022
THIRD PARTY SEARCH
India’s debacle in the previous World Cup started at the top. The openers failed to give a start, then captain Virat Kohli took the weight to number three. The conservative approach of the national team resulted in India being eliminated from the first competition inside the group stage.
And that’s where Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan come in. The two are very different from each other and bring distinct skills to the game. While Gaikwad is adept at spin, Kishan is perhaps India’s most ballistic high-order batsman. Since KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma are immovable at the top, these players will have to fight to break into the final squad.
There’s a lot to look forward to when India play South Africa on June 9. When Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya are set to make a comeback in national colours, and this may be India’s first time playing against South Africa. include a ripping stimulator and a death on yorker specialist in their team. Although it is time to select the final squad, no one can say there will be more focus than usual when these IPL stars return to Indian colours.
TEAM INDIA
KL Rahul (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
