IND vs SA: With the conclusion of the IPL 2022, eyes are back on the Indian national team as the Men In Blue resume their preparation for the T20 World Cup by hosting South Africa for a 5-T20I series starting June 9 in Delhi.
The Indian selectors have rested Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami while Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will miss the series due to injuries.
In the IND vs SA series, KL Rahul will lead the side and Rishabh Pant has been named his deputy. Another taking point of the squad was the maiden India call-ups to seamers Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh.
SRH speed sensation Malik finished as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2022, with 22 wickets at an average of 20. Arshdeep, the Punjab Kings seamer, although had 10 wickets to show, he was the best death bowler in the tournament, recording a commendable economy of 7.58 in the death overs.
Former India batsman Suresh Raina said that he will be keeping a close eye on Malik, Arshdeep and KL Rahul as the captain who led Lucknow to the playoffs.
“When the matches happen, it will be extremely hot, the matches will be played in June. There are a lot of things to look for. Umran Malik, who is a talented bowler, Arshdeep, the way he has bowled, and KL Rahul as a captain. He has impressed a lot but it is now the turn of the Indian team, I feel he will do very well,” Raina told Star Sports ahead of the IND vs SA series.
Apart from Malik and Arshdeep, three other players – Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, and Kuldeep Yadav – have been awarded recalls to the T20I side for the IND vs SA rubber following their stand-up-and-take-note-of performances in the IPL 2022.
Raina asserted that these players have to return the faith of the selectors by doing well at the international level again.
“It is extremely important because you will get to see all the players who performed in the IPL. But how they perform for India will matter. The mindset is important if you have to play for India,” the former CSK batsman added.
