Follow Us11 days after the Indian Premier League final, India are all set to welcome South Africa in a five-match T20I series. While it might look like a casual bilateral at the first glance, it presents the opportunity for both sides to reassemble their T20I squad and begin their World Cup preparations in full tilt. This is India’s first T20I in three and a half months and for South Africa, the first since the previous edition of the World Cup last year.
India though will miss KL Rahul, the stand-in captain, and Kuldeep Yadav due to injuries but the bench strength is such, that replacements are readily available. In Rahul’s absence, Rishabh Pant, the vice-captain of the squad, will take the leadership duties.
On the other hand, a well-oiled South African unit led by Temba Bavuma will once again aim to disrupt India’s plans. They haven’t lost a bilateral T20I series in India and have a decent squad to continue that record.
The series kicks off in Delhi with the first T20I. It will also test India’s 12-match long winning streak. Stretching it to 13 in this fixture will usher India to a world record.
Hardik’s return in the all-rounder’s audition
Given how badly he has been missed, Hardik Pandya’s return as a fast-bowling all-rounder is one of the major highlights of the series. In IPL 2022, he picked eight wickets at an economy of 7.3 which has resurfaced him as an irreplaceable asset as an all-rounder who could bowl.
“You know what that does to us, what depth it brings to the side. So for us really, it would be about ensuring we get the best out of him as a cricketer, in terms of his bowling, in terms of his batting,” said the head coach, Rahul Dravid said in the pre-series press conference in New Delhi.
How Hardik fares as a finisher for India after batting three and four throughout IPL 2022 will also attract eyeballs. However, it is his bowling fitness that will be the chief subject of attention. Dravid’s words elaborate the same.
We can expect him to replace Venkatesh Iyer after the latter’s poor IPL season. But will India also consider Deepak Hooda’s case as a spin-bowling all-rounder? That is the other all-rounder spot open for audition. Hooda had an outstanding IPL, where he mostly showed his skills with the bat.
If Ravindra Jadeja was fit, this series would have been India’s first full-strength audition for the all-rounder’s spot.
Proteas will need David Miller to continue IPL form
In T20Is since 2019, Miller has only scored 205 runs in 11 innings. While the average of 29.29 is impressive, his display in the recently concluded IPL might bring around more expectations from the veteran batter in the series against India. In IPL 2022, the left-hander scored 481 runs, at an impressive strike rate of 142.73.
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Given South Africa’s struggle to accelerate in the lower order, Miller’s form would prove to be a differentiator. With the series in India, it would mean that the 32-year-old might have to face more spinners during his time in the middle. However, turning up in prime form for Gujarat Titans, Miller proved to be lethal against spinners, only losing two wickets to spinners. With India lacking an out and out off-spinner in the setup, the responsibility would be on Miller to take on the favourable match-up.
Like Hardik’s return has bolstered India, South Africa would also be thrilled with the Killer Miller in great nick again. Can he bring that touch to the international setup is the answer the Proteas are looking for.
What will South Africa’s pace unit look like?
Until a few months ago, Anrich Nortje was the talk of the town. Having made his debut in 2019, the best of Nortje was only seen in the last two years (2020 and 21), where he picked up 58 wickets, averaging just 21 with the ball. He was fast, accurate and menacing.
However, since his return from the long lay-off, the pacer has only picked up nine wickets, turning up for Delhi Capitals. His name, however, wasn’t just consistently there on the wickets column but also the runs column, something that could play a role. South Africa possess a plethora of options with the ball.
The good form of Marco Jansen in the early half of the IPL with the new ball should definitely play some sort of a role in selection. While Jansen’s drop proved to be costly for the Sunrisers, his potential with the new ball should make him a favourite. On the other hand, Kagiso Rabada too had a stellar IPL season, picking up 23 wickets. Lungi Ngidi too has been a star, being the second-joint highest wicket-taker for the Proteas since 2019 with 25 wickets.
That only puts Anrich Nortje’s place in doubt. Will we see the best of Nortje during the series or will he be benched for Ngidi?
Probable XIs
India
Ruturaj Gaikwad will take KL Rahul’s slot as an opener. Will Dinesh Karthik’s stellar IPL season get him into the XI right away? If it does, Deepak Hooda will have to stay on the bench. While the pace attack picks himself, the slot for the second spinner is open. Axar Patel might pip Ravi Bishnoi based on his batting.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda/Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Bhuveshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal
South Africa
With a settled batting order, it is about how South Africa frame their bowling attack. Will they play a left-arm seamer in Wayne Parnell or Marco Jansen or will it be a right-arm seam attack with Rabada, Nortje, Ngidi and Pretorius. They also contain two spin bowling options in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen/Lungi Ngidi/Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Date & Time: June 9, 07:00 PM IST