Here’s how India squad can look like for South Africa series

After the conclusion of the ongoing Indian T20 League 2022 on May 29, the Indian Cricket Team will host South Africa for the T20I series in June. The five-match series will start on June 9 and the matches will be played across different venues. Reports suggests that a lot of senior players will be rested for the series. The reasons for that are the grueling season of the cash-rich league and the England tour.

The BCCI selectors want the first-choice player to remain fresh for the one-off Test match against England. The game has great significance as far as the World Test Championship is concerned and the series. The number two Test side is leading the five-match series by 2-1 and would like to close out the series with nothing less than a win. Meanwhile, in this listicle, we will discuss the tentative squad for the series against the Proteas.

Tentative squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa  

1. Shikhar Dhawan

The left-hander has been out of reckoning in the shortest format. However, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma reportedly to be rested, he is the front-runner to lead the young side. Dhawan has been in good form in Indian T20 League 2022

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

The opening batter has been part of the various Indian teams since making his mark in the Indian domestic 50-over competition last November. He hasn’t got enough opportunities though. However, he might get enough games in the absence of first-choice players against South Africa.

3. Ishan Kishan (wk)

The wicketkeeper has been opening the innings in the shortest format since late last year. In the 10 matches he has played, the left-hander has done well with 289 runs, averaging 32.11 and striking at 121.42.

4. Rahul Tripathi

The explosive batter is plying his trade with Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League 2022. He has been terrific with the bat, accumulating 393 runs in 13 games, averaging 39.30 and striking at 161.72. He is the front-runner to get selected after Suryakumar Yadav’s injury, who has been asked to rest for four weeks by the BCCI medical team.

5. Deepak Hooda

He made his India debut early this year against the West Indies. In the Indian T20 League 2022 for Lucknow team, he has scored four fifties. Hooda is likely to be selected for the series.

6. Nitish Rana

The Delhi-born player has done well with 319 runs in 13 games in the 15th season of the cash-rich league. He was included for the Sri Lanka tour but didn’t get enough opportunities.

7. Dinesh Karthik (wk)

The Tamil Nadu player is making a strong case with the bat in the Indian T20 League 2022. The right-hander has scored 285 runs in 13 games batting in the lower-middle order. The selection committee will be keen to utilize his current form and see him whether he can play the role of a finisher for the team during the 20-20 World Cup later this year.

8. Shivam Dube

The batting all-rounder has dominated the opposition bowling with a strike-rate of 156.21. He has dominated the middle overs of the game this season. He will be making a comeback after 2020 if the selectors consider him.

9. Rahul Tewatia

The designated finisher for Gujarat has won a few games which looked like the lost cause. He was considered for the home series against England last year but didn’t get a game.

10. Hardik Pandya

The discarded all-rounder has done well with the bat and fine with the ball for Gujarat. He is also the candidate after Dhawan to lead the Men In Blue for the series.

11. Venkatesh Iyer

The all-rounder has been part of the team since late last year. While he hasn’t made an impact yet in Indian colours, BCCI might want to give him a longer run considering that fast bowling all-rounders are rare.

12. Umran Malik

The pacer has grabbed a lot of eyeballs with his pace. He has picked 21 wickets in the Indian T20 League 2022 and the selectors would be looking to give him the taste of international cricket

13. Mukesh Choudhary

The left-arm pacer has been impressive for Chennai and has the ability to swing the ball back in to the right-handers. The team has been looking for a bowler like him since the retirement of Zaheer Khan.

14. Mohsin Khan

Another left-arm pacer who has impressed with his raw pace and swing bowling while playing for Lucknow. He can also be selected in the team.

15. Kuldeep Yadav

The left-arm wrist spinner has looked like his former self this season. He has picked wickets in the middle overs and the national team recall might not be too away.

16. Arshdeep Singh

The left-arm medium pacer has been doing well in the last three season for Punjab. He has done well with the new ball and in the death overs.

17. Krunal Pandya

The batting all-rounder bowls controls the run flow in the middle overs and can contribute with the bat in the death overs.