India Playing XI vs SA: India vs South Africa Live: With India’s bigwigs of batting are unavailable, the 5-match T20 series will be a testing ground for head coach Rahul Dravid. While KL Rahul has been ruled out, Rishabh Pant will lead the side and former head coach Ravi Shastri has given his insights on the Playing XI for the 1st T20. The big surprise is that he has omitted Dinesh Karthik and Kuldeep Yadav. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Ravi Shastri was one of the staunch supporters of Dinesh Karthik making a comeback to India team. However, as both Rahul Dravid and the team management’s focus is on grooming young talent, it could be tricky to slot in Dinesh Karthik.
“There is already Rishabh Pant who can bat in the top four or five in T20 cricket, but you want someone who can keep and finish a game because there aren’t too many finishers now with MS (Dhoni) having quit. So, I think that’s where his chances are very very good,” Shastri said.
India Playing XI vs SA: Ravi Shastri picks his Playing XI for 1st T20, no place for Dinesh Karthik & Kuldeep Yadav – Check OUT
India Playing XI vs SA: Ravi Shastri picks his Playing XI for 1st T20, no place for Dinesh Karthik & Kuldeep Yadav – Check OUT
Shastri has also omitted Kuldeep Yadav because of combination hurdles. With five pure batters, India need batting depth in the lower order and that is where Axar Patel comes in. Patel did well for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2022.
India Playing XI vs SA 1st T20: Ravi Shashtri’s XI
1. Ishan Kishan
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad
3. Shreyas Iyer
4. Rishabh Pant (C, WK)
5. Deepak Hooda
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Axar Patel
8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
9. Harshal Patel
10. Arshdeep Singh/Umran Malik
11. Yuzvendra Chahal
India Playing XI vs SA: Ravi Shastri picks his Playing XI for 1st T20, no place for Dinesh Karthik & Kuldeep Yadav – Check OUT
But the opening combination will be key. With no Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul will have to open with either Ruturaj Gaikwad or Ishan Kishan. Out of the two, Ishan is more flexible and that is why Ruturaj is all set to open with Rohit. Ishan will bat at No 3 with Shreyas Iyer at No 4.
“I think they will go with the guys they will want to see first – the Rahuls, the Ruturaj Gaikwads. Maybe they will open. They will probably give Ishan Kishan a break in this game or bat him at three,”
“If you bat him (Ishan) at three, then it will be Shreyas (Iyer) at No. 4, (Rishabh) Pant at No. 5 and Hardik (Pandya) at No. 6.”
India Playing XI vs SA: Ravi Shastri picks his Playing XI for 1st T20, no place for Dinesh Karthik & Kuldeep Yadav – Check OUT
As for bowling combination, Hardik Pandya’s return is key to India’s finding that 6th bowling option. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel are two first names on the teamsheet for their death bowling, the third seamer’s choice will be key.
The competition for that is between three young pacers in Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan. But as India want a death-overs specialist for the T20 World Cup, Ravi Shastri believes Arshdeep could also get a go.
“No. 7 will be Axar Patel. I think eight will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar batting-wise, then Chahal, Arshdeep Singh/Umran Malik and Harshal Patel. Umran or Arshdeep depending on the ground and what the pitch is like.
“I think if Bhuvi plays, then Umran is better because Bhuvi can do a job for you at the death. But then again you are looking for someone at the death, they are looking to develop that bowler. So if Harshal is going to do that, he plays that game.”
India Playing XI vs SA: Ravi Shastri picks his Playing XI for 1st T20, no place for Dinesh Karthik & Kuldeep Yadav – Check OUT
India Squad for South Africa: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain)(wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
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