India vs South Africa: Three areas India will look to solve during the series
India are looking to continue their dominance in the shortest format of the game, as they are set to host South Africa in a home T20I series. This series will consist of five T20I matches from 9 June to 19 June.
Both teams announced their squad earlier as team India rested some of their big players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Young players like Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh were added to the squad based on their impressive performance in this year’s Indian T20 League. On the other hand, South Africa announced a strong squad with the likes of Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Kagiso Rabada named in it. All these Proteas players are coming off a good form from the Indian T20 League 2022 as well.
Team India are on a 12-match winning streak. Winning this series will give them the much-required practice for the upcoming 20-20 World Cup later this year. New players can get a chance to establish their names as well. Hence, Team India will look to solve three areas during this series and these are:
Batter at no.4 Position
The number four position in the Team India’s middle-order is the most talked-about position in recent times. Players like Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer have been tried already but no one found consistency.
Now, the Team India management can try Hardik Pandya or Deepak Hooda in that position to find out the best possible solution. Hooda managed to score 451 runs in 15 innings at an average of 32.21. Meanwhile, Pandya scored 487 runs in 15 innings at an average of 44.27 in the Indian T20 League.
Choosing between all-rounder or finisher in the lower middle-order
India will also look to settle on a specific player. Either an all-rounder or a finisher. Hardik Pandya can be the best-suited option due to his recent form with both the bat and ball. But, recently he played the role of an anchor for his franchise rather than a finisher.
Based on some stellar performances in the Indian T20 Leauge, Dinesh Karthik can be the best option for now. Karthik scored 330 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 183.33 for Bangalore, batting down the order. His six-hitting abilities in the death overs were the talk of the town. Hence, India can try him at this position by giving him chances in playing XI throughout the series.
Third Seam Bowling option
Experience bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah were rested for this series as India added some young guns like Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh to their ranks. India coach Rahul Dravid will look to find out a quality third seamer
Umran’s pace impressed everyone and thus, his inclusion can give India a variety. Even, Arshdeep Singh managed to improve his death bowling skills this year as he picked up 10 wickets in 14 matches. Thus, either one of them can seal their spot, and accompany Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the near future.
