Team India is set to face South Africa in a three-part T20I series. The opener is at Kingsmead, Durban, this Sunday — December 10. Next, they play at St George’s Park, Gqeberha on Tuesday, December 12. The final showdown will be at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on Thursday, December 14.
The T20 World Cup is set for June 2024 in the USA and the West Indies. The upcoming series with the Proteas is very important. India will play three T20Is against Afghanistan at home in January after their tour of South Africa. Then, it’s off to the ICC event. But first, most Indian players will join the Indian Premier League (IPL) before the World Cup starts.
With Hardik Pandya sidelined with an injury, Suryakumar Yadav will keep leading the T20I team against the Proteas. As India gets ready for their T20I series with South Africa, here are three key things to discuss for the guests.
1. Enough of chatter around Kohli-Rohit T20I comeback?
Since Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s outstanding performance in India’s 2023 ODI World Cup, many fans and critics have lobbied for the seasoned combination to be included to the 2024 T20 World Cup side.
It’s clear both athletes are icons in the sport. Their skill in T20 matches is undeniable. Still, confusion remains about their presence at the T20 World Cup and if they truly want to participate.
Since the catastrophe in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide, neither Kohli nor Rohit have played a T20I match for the Men in Blue. India gradually began to give opportunities to numerous young players who had done well in the IPL. With few months till the ICC event in the West Indies and the United States, Kohli and Rohit will undoubtedly deviate from the original plan.
What the players and selectors are thinking is quite evident from the fact that neither Rohit nor Kohli are playing in the T20I series in South Africa. Regarding the likelihood of the two returning for the World Cup in T20I, there have been conflicting claims.
However, for Indian cricket’s benefit, the sooner the uncertainty surrounding their T20I future is resolved, the better.
2. KL Rahul no longer a T20I option for India?
There’s been a lot of talk about Kohli and Rohit’s future in T20I games. KL Rahul’s place is also in question now. Like them, he’s not on the team for the T20I series against South Africa. New players Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and Jitesh Sharma are keeping their spots instead.
Though many may not have noticed, KL Rahul has not played a Twenty20 International match for India since the 2022 T20 World Cup, much like Rohit and Kohli. Despite scoring a few half-centuries, Rahul’s T20 World Cup performance in Australia was lackluster.
Having said that, he has a strong record for India in T20Is. He has scored 2265 runs in 72 matches at an average of 37.75 and a strike rate of over 140, with two hundreds and 22 fifties. Rinku Singh and Jitesh have done an excellent job as finishers, but they lack experience.
The T20I lineup also includes all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and Pandya is expected to make a comeback following his injury. Rahul’s chances of sneaking back into the T20I team appear to be slim.
3. The opening conundrum
When it comes to opening positions in T20Is, India is spoiled for options. Shubman Gill was rested for the Men in Blue’s T20I series against Australia at home, but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad delivered strong performances in his absence. They also have Ishan Kishan, who can open if necessary.
Choosing between Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will be a difficult decision for India. It is not fair to exclude any of the three from the starting lineup. In the few Twenty20 Internationals that Gill has played, he has performed admirably. He has amassed 304 runs with a strike average of 146.85 with one hundred and fifty in 11 games.
Looking at Gaikwad’s stats, he has 500 runs from 17 innings pitched at a strike rate of 140.05, one ton, and three fifties. And, according to Jaiswal’s T20I statistics, he has 370 runs at a strike rate of 163.71, with 102 fifties. There isn’t much to choose between the three, however Jaiswal’s strike rate may be an X factor.
With only three T20Is, the Men in Blue are unable to rotate their openers. It will be fascinating to observe how Suryakumar and company handle this quandary.
