South Africa vs India 2021-22: India's predicted squad for T20I series

India and South Africa are all set to battle it out in a four-match T20I series, which will begin on January 19. It has been a long time since India has visited South Africa for a bilateral series. 

The last time the Proteas hosted a T20I series against India, the visitors ended up winning the series. However, a lot has changed since then. While Bavuma’s men failed it to make to the ICC T20 WC 2021 semi-final, they still won a lot of hearts with their performance in the tournament. 

India, on the other hand, had a torrid time in the tournament. However, after whitewashing New Zealand at home, they would’ve got their lost confidence back. So what could be their squad for the T20Is?

Here is India’s probable T20I squad for South Africa tour:

1) Rohit Sharma (C)

Rohit Sharma started his tenure as India’s full-time T20I captain with a bang. He led his troops to a comprehensive series victory against New Zealand. Besides, his current form has been commendable, to say the least

India’s new T20I skipper has had a year to remember. However, if one talks about the shortest format of the game, then he’s been scoring runs for fun in this format as well. The opener has scored three fifties in his last five games.

Speaking about his overall numbers in this format of the game, the Hitman has scored 3197 runs in 119 games. His batting average and strike rate are 32.96 and 140.28 respectively. This includes 26 fifties and four centuries.

2) KL Rahul

KL Rahul has been one of the best batters of the country for a while now. His recent form has been sublime as well. Moreover, he was India’s best batter in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 too.

It is safe to say that the shortest form of the game is his strongest suit. Versatility is what makes the opener so valuable in T20Is. Besides, he is more than a decent gloveman as well.

The Karnataka batter has 1831 runs in 52 T20Is. His batting average and strike rate are 40.69 and 142.49 respectively. This includes 16 fifties and two centuries.

3) Virat Kohli

Despite not being India’s T20I skipper anymore, Virat Kohli is still an integral member of the side. Playing without the burden of being the captain might just bring the best out of him.

Besides, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the batting maestro is one of the greatest T20I batters of all time. India’s Test and ODI captain has scored 3227 runs in 94 T20Is so far. His batting average and strike rate in this format are 52.05 and 137.91 respectively. This also includes 29 fifties.

His magnificent half-century against arch-rivals Pakistan in India’s opening game of the ICC T20 WC 2021 showed that he still had the fire within him. Thus, the Proteas bowlers need to be wary of him.

4) Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is the new superstar of Indian cricket. After scoring runs for fun during his time at the Mumbai Indians during the IPL, he was finally selected in the Indian team. After making his international debut earlier this year, he took the world by storm.

The Mumbai batter got off the mark in his maiden T20I game with a six, which speaks volumes of his ability. He hasn’t let all the attention affect his game as he has been consistently scoring runs. Thus, the elegant batter is expected to bat at 4 in the T20I series against the Proteas.

The 31-year old has scored 244 runs in the 11 T20Is he has played so far. His batting average and strike rate are 34.86 and 155.41 respectively. This includes 3 fifties as well.

5) Shreyas Iyer

Amidst all the criticism on his batting technique, Shreyas Iyer has done well for India in the limited opportunities given to him so far. His temperament is what makes him such a bankable player. The fact that he didn’t feature in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 was an absolute tragedy.

The 26-year-old has scored 580 runs in 31 T20Is so far. His batting average and strike rate are 27.62 and 132.12 respectively. This includes three fifties too.

Although he wasn’t at his best in the recently concluded T20I series against the Kiwis, the Mumbai batter could very well find himself in the XI. However, if he does get a chance, then he’d have to work on his power-hitting against the short-pitched deliveries.

6) Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is India’s “X factor”. His ability to single-handedly win matches makes him a valuable asset. Of late, the keeper-batter has been in good form as well.

After a few cameos in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, he played a more responsible role in the recently concluded T20I series against the Blackcaps. Pant remained unbeaten in two of the three T20Is where he finished the game on both occasions.

The rising star has scored 623 runs in 40 T20Is so far. His batting average and strike rate are 23.07 and 123.12 respectively. He has also scored two T20I fifties, despite batting in the middle-order.

7) Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer has been the new talk of the town. In the last few months, he has been in the form of his life. After getting a chance to open the innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the second phase of IPL 2021, the all-rounder made full use of this opportunity.

His performances in the Indian T20 league managed to impress one and all. Thus, he was then selected in the Indian T20I squad. The 26-year-old then went on to make his international debut in the first T20I against New Zealand.

While he didn’t have a standout performance in any of the games, he wasn’t too bad either. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder had a few good cameos, and then bowled a few overs and picked a wicket. Thus, there seems no logical reason to drop him for the T20I series against the Proteas.

8) Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is one of the most valuable players in the Indian team right now. Batting, bowling, fielding, there isn’t anything the rockstar can’t do. It would be safe to call him a complete package.

Featuring him in the XI would be an absolute no-brainer. Besides, there has been a significant improvement in his batting. The 32-year-old’s impact is equivalent to gold.

In the 55 T20Is in which he has played so far, the southpaw has scored 256 runs. He has also picked 46 wickets at an average of 27.24. Last but not the least, he has a superb economy rate of just 6.99.

9) Ravichandran Ashwin

R Ashwin has had a memorable comeback in the shortest format of the game. He has hardly put a foot wrong ever since he started playing T20Is again. Not only has he been able to pick wickets, but he has also controlled the flow of runs in the middle overs.

The off-spinner was impressive in both the games he played against the Kiwis as well. His economy rate in that series was just 5.24, he also picked three wickets in those two games. His bowling was so tight that even the finishers of the opposition team struggled to hit him.

Speaking about his overall numbers, the veteran has picked 61 wickets in 51 T20Is. His bowling average and strike rate are 21.28 and 18.79 respectively. He gives runs at a miserly economy rate of 6.8.

10) Axar Patel

Axar Patel is one of the most underrated Indian players going around. He often goes about his job silently. It’s a pity that his skills have been underutilized by the management of his team.

The all-rounder has made it a habit to bowl economical overs. Even the best of the best batters struggle to get the better off him. Add to that his abilities with the bat.

The left-armer has taken 13 wickets in 15 T20Is so far. His bowling average and strike rate are 27.31 and 24.46 respectively. The 27-year-old has a miserly economy rate of 6.7.

11) Yuzvendra Chahal

Over the years, Yuzvendra Chahal has been one of India’s biggest match-winners. It was surprising to see him get dropped from the 2021 T20 World Cup squad. India missed his services in the marquee event big time.

The leggie has a knack for breaking partnerships. With his wicket-taking ability, he is handy in high-scoring games. Moreover, he does this in the middle overs and thus, breaks the momentum of the opposition batters.

The wrist-spinner has picked 64 T20I wickets so far in his career. His bowling average and strike rate are 25.31 and 18.33 respectively. This includes two four-fers as well as a six-fer.

12) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been India’s old war-horse. The pacer has been a silent assassin. His return to full fitness comes as a blessing to the Rohit Sharma lead side.

His ability to control the flow of runs in the powerplay overs sets the tone for India’s strike bowlers to pick the crucial wickets. Moreover, if fully fit, he can be superb at death as well. Besides, the last time India played a T20I series in SA, he was the player of the series.

The veteran has picked 53 wickets in 55 T20Is. His bowling average and strike rate are 25.57 and 22.06 respectively. His economy rate is on the lower side as well (6.95).

13) Jasprit Bumrah

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Jasprit Bumrah has been one of India’s best performers of late. The pacer has always contributed to his side. There is a reason why he has been hailed as one of the best bowlers of this generation.

The MI pacer has picked 66 wickets in 54 T20I so far. His bowling average and strike rate are 19.55 and 17.98 respectively. His economy rate is just 6.52, despite bowling the most difficult overs during the game.

Bumrah was one of India’s best bowlers during their previous tour to SA. Besides, The seamer has a superb record against the Proteas as well. If his side is to beat them, he will have to be at his best.

14) Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan is considered to be the future of Indian cricket. His talent has been noticed by all the cricket pundits. His exploits in the IPL prove how good he can be in this format.

The keeper-batter instantly made a mark when he scored a half-century on his T20I debut against England. Although, he hasn’t done anything noteworthy post that, he deserved a few more chances taking his potential into account.

His ability to hit the ball a long way makes him a worthy contender to feature in the squad for the T20I series against SA. However, with the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer, it is highly unlikely that he gets a chance to feature in the XI. Nevertheless, he can prove to be a solid backup.

15) Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar is one of the most economical Indian seamers in the shortest format of the game. His bowling in the powerplay overs is exceptional. They always manage to cause unrest among the opposition batters.

His ability to swing the ball makes it a must to have him in the squad. Add to that his batting abilities, the CSK player isn’t any sort of mug with the bat and has already had some memorable cameos.

In the 17 T20Is in which he has played so far, the 29-year-old has picked 23 wickets so far. His bowling average and strike rate are 21.57 and 15.96 respectively. This includes a six-fer as well.

16) Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel has always been one of India’s best all-rounders in the domestic circuit. However, he has finally got his much-deserved opportunity in the highest level of the game. His unreal performance in the IPL 2021 forced the selectors to give him a chance.

He grabbed his opportunities with both his hands, as he went on to win the player of the match award in his international debut against the Kiwis. He had a good performance in his second T20I game as well, with both, the bowl as well as the bat.

He is a quality death bowler who can be handy with the bat, and an all-rounder who can turn out to be a match-winner for India in the future. Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if Rohit Sharma does give him a game in the series against the Proteas.