India’s probable 18-member squad for South Africa T20Is

8) Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has finally hit a purple patch in terms of his performance with the bat, as he has simply been unstoppable in the IPL this season. The Gujarat Titans skipper has led his side from the front, both with the bat and ball. With the T20I World Cup approaching in a few months, the selectors will certainly have Hardik in their plans.

However, the all-rounder might still not be available for bowling against South Africa, given that he suffered a minor groin injury during the first half of the IPL season. Despite his continued struggles with injuries, Hardik Pandya is in much better shape at the moment and has developed into a mature batter. He has scored 553 runs in 54 T20I games and has picked up 42 wickets at an average of 27.40.

9) Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is among the frontrunners for a call-up to the Indian T20I side. The veteran batter has been in the form of his life in the ongoing IPL edition, scoring 216 runs in nine matches at a staggering average of 72, and a strike rate of around 200.

Given the form the Royal Challengers Bangalore batter is in, it will be difficult to look past him for the bilateral series against South Africa. Moreover, the Dinesh Karthik possesses plenty of international experience and could add another dimension to the batting unit.