To prepare for the T20 World Cup in
Australia, India is expected to play at least 23 T20Is to get in groove ahead
of the big tournament next summer. The plan was set in motion in the West
Indies where we saw a lot of new faces and the upcoming series against South
Africa will likely be an extension of the same with the management trying out
fresh ideas, resting some of the regulars, seeing which of the new ones manage
to click with the team and impress. Altogether, the series should be very
exciting.
India will play a three-match series
against the Proteas. Coach Ravi Shastri clearly stressed on the importance of
grooming youngsters and trying to incorporate some of them for the 2020 World
Cup. There is a lot of change to the bowling lineup with India looking for
dynamism. Of course, the big names in Kohli and Rohit Sharma are present but
this series will focus more on the youngsters.
Team form guide
India is coming into a series off the back of a whitewash against the West Indies where Kohli’s men beat them across all formats. India won the series 3-0. India were emphatic winners in all those three games and at no point, did they look troubled by the Windies side. Of course, the series against South Africa is expected to be more competitive. Navdeep Saini and Deepak Chahar were revelations of the series and will be definitely an interesting prospect in the upcoming series as well. Krunal Pandya was the man of the series for his excellent performances and will get another shot to establish himself as a regular in the series against South Africa.
India takes on South Africa in aT20 I series. Image: Getty
South Africa, just like India is also
coming on the back of a 3-0 whitewash with their victims being Sri Lanka. The
first match between both the sides was tied and required a super over to
separate both the teams with the Proteas coming on top. The next two matches
were won without much hassle and Reeza Hendricks’ dominant performances saw him
being felicitated with the Man of the Series accolade.
Indian players to keep an eye out for
Shikhar Dhawan - Yes, Dhawan is an established regular with the side and is a superstar of the game but he isn’t at his best in the shortest format of the sport. His T20 record is dismal and his current form hasn’t been too great either coming off of the injury layoff. He has managed only 105 runs at an average of 15 at a strike rate of 100 in seven matches in 2019.
Hardik
Pandya - While Hardik Pandya has been an absolute
beast with the Mumbai Indians in IPL, his T20 career with the national team has
been less impressive and it is important the enigmatic cricketer finds
consistency ahead of the World Cup next year. He is one of his kind – a fast-bowling all-rounder who is a hard hitter with the back and India will need
to utilize him well. He was rested for the series against West Indies and has
come into the side to replace Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Navdeep Saini - In the absence of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar, eyes will be on Navdeep Saini. The youngster managed to impress on his debut after his breakthrough in the IPL. He picked up three wickets on his debut and finished the T20I series as the highest wicket-taker with five victims. For him, the series against South Africa will be an even bigger challenge and Saini must continue on the same road.
Deepak
Chahar - After impressing with Chennai Super Kings,
Chahar got his chance in the series against West Indies. In the final T20 game,
he recorded figures of 3/4 in just 3 overs. The role of the third pacer is
vacant and Chahar will be competing for it along with Khaleel Ahmed and Saini.
Probable lineups:
India: Rohit Sharma
(VC), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh
Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep
Saini.
South
Africa: Quinton de Kock (C), Rassie van der
Dussen (VC), George Linde, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, David
Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Junior Dala,
Tabraiz Shamsi.
Venue and timings:
The first T20 will be held on the 15th
of September in Dharamsala. The second T20 will be hosted in Mohali on the 18th
and the final match of the series will be played in Chennai on 22nd
September. All the games are supposed to begin at 7 PM IST.