In order to find the perfect combination for T20 World Cup, the Indian cricket team would begin their preparation with five-match T20I series against South Africa, starting June 9.
Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli along with other senior players are rested for the South Africa series and it would be a great opportunity for the youngsters to make their case for T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in October-November in Australia.
Also read: IPL 2022 Final, GT vs RR: Is Hardik Pandya a future Team India captain?
The veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik, Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya and youngster Umran Malik are the notable addition to India's T20 squad after their superb stint in the recently-concluded IPL 2022.
KL Rahul will lead the Team India against the Proteas and it would be interesting to see what would be the batting position for Hardik Pandya given Rishabh Pant is also in the side. Pant generally bats at the number 4 position, however, Hardik's recent exploit at Number 4 position in IPL 2022 would give the Rahul Dravid-led team management to test different players at various positions.
India and South Africa will play their first T20 match at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi and this will be the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19 that there will be no bio-bubble for players. The five-match series will conclude on June 19 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
Temba Bavuma (Captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendrix, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwayne Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabariz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rasi van der Dussen, Marco Janssen.
IND vs SA T20Is: When and where to watch the five-match T20 series in India
The IND vs SA T20 series will begin on June 9.
The T20 matches during India vs South Africa series will kick-start at 7 PM IST.
The India vs South Africa T20 series will be played across five venues, namely New Delhi, Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, and Bengaluru.
Star Sports will broadcast the five-match T20I series in India.
Fans can watch the T20I series between India and South Africa on Disney+Hotstar