The interim India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Rahul Dravid ringed in quite a few changes to their T20I XI for the 2nd T20I against South Africa.
The first T20I between India and South Africa in Durban was washed out on Sunday. On Tuesday, both teams locked horns in the 2nd T20I at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, where the Proteas recorded a 5-wicket win in a rain-marred game.
Suryakumar Yadav dropped his Mumbai Indians teammate Ishan Kishan from the Indian team XI
India’s playing XI included a few surprises. Ravi Bishnoi, who was the Player of the Series against Australia, was benched as Kuldeep Yadav returned. Shreyas Iyer, who was the vice-captain in the last two T20Is against Australia, was benched. And on the bench was also Ishan Kishan, who had cracked two half-centuries against Australia last month, as India opted to play Jitesh Sharma, who played two quickfire cameos in the last two T20Is against the Aussies.
It is believed that India are now looking at Jitesh Sharma as their wicket-keeping option in their T20I team. Ishan Kishan can only play in the top three, but India’s top three already is brimming with many options – Jaiswal, Gill, and Tilak played in the 2nd T20I while Gaikwad was on the bench, despite racking up big runs against Australia. And Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could, too, return in the T20I team, leaving the management with no option but to give Jitesh more chances in the role of a finisher.
Jaiswal, Gill, and Jitesh all three flopped against South Africa in Gqeberha, managing single-digit scores.
Half-centuries from Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav helped India post a total of 180. However, it didn’t prove to be enough. After a rain intervention, South Africa were given the target of 152 runs in 15 overs, which they chased down in 13.5 overs, courtesy of Reeza Hendricks‘ 49 off 27 balls followed by Aiden Markram’s 30 off 17 balls. Indian bowlers struggled with the lengths as they bowled amid dew.
