India’s predicted 11 for T20Is vs South Africa

India are set to face Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in a five-match T20I series against South Africa at home. KL Rahul will lead the team, Rishabh Pant his deputy. 

The series will start on June 9 and be played across New Delhi, Cuttack, Rajkot, Bangalore and Visakhapatnam. 

Also read: Umran’s call-up to Pujara’s return: Key highlights from India’s squad selection

Here is India’s predicted 11:

1) KL Rahul (C)

KL Rahul has been named India’s captain for the T20I series against South Africa. The 30-year-old led the Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in IPL 2022. He top-scored for the franchise with 616 runs in 15 games at an average of 51.33 and strike rate of 135.38. 

Also read: Gujarat Titans domination: Shami, at No 11, didn’t bat once in 16 matches

2) Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan, IPL 2022’s most-expensive buy at Rs 15.25 crore, finished the season with 418 runs in 14 games. He averaged 32.15 and striked at 120.11. While the Mumbai Indians player did not play according to his reputation, he is a bankable option in the Indian set-up and someone the team will want in the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

Also read: Biggest mistakes made in IPL 2022

3) Shreyas Iyer:

Shreyas Iyer’s Kolkata Knight Riders did not make to the playoffs of IPL 2022. He scored 401 runs in 14 games with three fifties in the tournament. The No 3 batter had made three consecutive fifties against Sri Lanka ahead of the IPL. 

4) Hardik Pandya:

The Gujarat Titans captain led his side to the title in IPL 2022. Him coming in at No 4 helped the team drive through the middle overs and finish well. Pandya finished the season as GT’s top-scorer with 487 runs in 15 games. The 28-year-old also picked eight wickets. 

5) Rishabh Pant (vc/wk):

Rishabh Pant was named the vice-captain for the South Africa T20Is. The Delhi Capitals skipper slammed 340 runs in 13 innings at an average of 30.91 in IPL 2022. 

Also read: With Pandya’s wicket, Yuzvendra Chahal beats Imran Tahir in huge IPL feat

6) Dinesh Karthik:

IPL 2022 was a comeback season for Dinesh Karthik, who represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The 36-year-old scored 330 runs in 16 games at an average of 55.00 and whopping strike rate of 183+. 

7) Yuzvendra Chahal:

Chahal finished IPL 2022 as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. The Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner picked 27 scalps at 19.51 and economy rate of 19.51. He managed to take a hattrick, fifer and four-wicket haul in the season. 

8) Harshal Patel:

Harshal Patel finished IPL 2022 with 19 wickets in 15 games. His economy rate was 7.66 rpo. The Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer is useful in death overs and has time and again picked key wickets. 

9) Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to lead India’s bowling attack against South Africa. He picked 12 wickets in 14 games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022 at an economy of 7.34 rpo. 

10) Kuldeep Yadav:

The famous Kul-Cha could be back. Kuldeep Yadav might play as India’s second spinner vs South Africa. The Delhi Capitals player finished IPL 2022 with 21 wickets in 14 games. 

11) Avesh Khan/Umran Malik 

Avesh Khan played a key role in Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2022 campaign. He picked 18 wickets in 13 games at 23.11 and economy of 8.72. 

Umran Malik, on the other hand, finished with 22 wickets in 14 games. He bowled the fastest ball in all of them. 

India’s T20I squad: KL Rahul (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, 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.