India vs South Africa T20Is | 5 Indian Players To Watch Out For
Shubman Gill is back into the T20I squad [AP]
On Thursday, the BCCI selection committee announced a robust 17-member Indian squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead the India, which is an amalgamation of experience and youth.
The series holds significant importance for India, as it will help them form their core for the T20 World Cup next year. So, before the teams collide with each other, here are five Indian players to watch out for in the high-voltage series.
Shubman Gill
Despite being incredibly consistent in the ODIs, Shubman Gill is yet to find his feet in the shortest format. In his previous T20I assignment in the Caribbean, Gill managed only 102 runs, including four single-digit scores.
So, with team India aiming to revamp their top order before the World Cup, Gill needs to showcase his T20I prowess and lock his name on the team sheet.
Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh has been impressive as a finisher [AP]
Since debuting in the Ireland series, Rinku Singh has been India's go-to finisher in the shortest format. The swashbuckling southpaw has hammered 128 runs at a blistering strike rate of 216.95, exhibiting his hitting prowess to perfection.
However, it will be a daunting task for Rinku to thrive on this tour, as the South African pacers will pose a serious threat to him in their own backyard. But if he succeeds, India will find a flamboyant finisher for their upcoming World Cup campaign.
Mohammed Siraj
Hailed for his ability to make the new ball talk, Mohammed Siraj will lead India's pace battery in the T20I series against South Africa. He recently had an underwhelming World Cup, where he scalped 14 wickets at an ordinary strike rate of 35.36.
The 29-year-old speedster is yet to stamp his authority in T20Is and considering the rise of Arshdeep Singh, he would be keen to grab this opportunity and make his mark before the World Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav in action [AP]
Kuldeep Yadav's growth as an ODI bowler has been exponential, to say the least. After moving on from Yuzvendra Chahal, the Indian think tank considers Kuldeep as the lead spinner heading to the World Cup. However, considering Ravi Bishnoi's recent exploits, Kuldeep would be desperate to prove himself and stay in contention for the lead spinner's role in the marquee event.
Ravindra Jadeja
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Ravindra Jadeja will be SKY's deputy in the SA T20Is [AP]
The selectors' decision to name Ravindra Jadeja the vice-captain for this T20I series raised a few eyebrows, and rightly so. Despite being an asset in Tests and ODIs, Jadeja has been disappointing in the T20I format, scoring 457 runs and picking 51 wickets in 64 matches.
But given they have the World Cup coming up, India might have wanted to give the experienced all-rounder a last chance to secure his place in the squad. So, it will be important for Jadeja to pass the Proteas challenge with flying colours and silence his critics through some stellar all-round performances.
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