Home
India will hope to continue their preparations for the T20 World Cup with an improvement in their bowling, especially in the death, while also giving some game time to their untested players in the three-match series against South Africa, beginning in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
India skipper Rohit Sharma singled out his team's death bowling as an area that needs to improve after the series victory over the T20 World Cup hosts Australia. But they will be without two of their key bowlers, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have been rested ahead of the ICC event beginning on October 16.
Mohammad Shami, who is among the World Cup reserves, is yet to recover from Covid-19 and will miss these three games against the Proteas. Meanwhile, another player returning from injury in Harshal Patel did not have the best of times against Australia but will be expected to get back to his best in the final three games before the World Cup.
His career economy rate stands at 9.05 but he conceded more than 12 runs per over against the Australians.
Deepak Chahar, who is also on standby for the Word Cup, did not get any game time in the previous series. He could get a chance if the team decides to rotate their pacers over three games. Arshdeep Singh's return to bolster the team's resources in the slog overs, making an effective combination alongside Jasprit Bumrah, who will aim to regain his full rhythm after coming back from injury.
In the series decider against Australia, Yuzvendra Chahal showed what he can do if the ball is gripping and turning after looking flat in the first two games. Keeping the Australian conditions in mind, the wily leg-spinner will be looking to up his game on docile pitches. As Rohit spoke about the importance of giving all the players game time ahead of the World Cup, R Ashwin could get a look in.
In the batting department, K L Rahul would like to make the most of these three games after missing out in the last two games against Australia.
While Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are looking in good touch, it is important that KL Rahul too is in full flow before the team travels to Australia. Dinesh Karthik got to play only eight balls against Australia and Rohit has already said the designated finisher in the squad needs more time in the middle.
World Cup-bound Deepak Hooda will end up missing all the six games before the mega event as he has been ruled out of the South Africa T20s with a back injury. Shreyas Iyer is expected to take Hooda's place in the squad.
For South Africa, all eyes will also be on the young Tristian Stubbs who has made the World Cup squad on the back of his good show in franchise cricket.
Squads
South Africa
Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.
India
Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
