IND vs SA: 3 Indian Players Who Can Captain Team India If Rohit Sharma Is Rested For T20I Series

Team India will host South Africa for five T20 International matches in June. The series will begin just 10 days after the conclusion of the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The five-match T20I series will resume India’s roadmap for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year in the October-November period.

The squad for the forthcoming T20I series against South Africa is likely to be announced during the IPL 2022 playoffs (May 24-29).

Since Rohit Sharma took over the T20I captaincy from Virat Kohli after the T20 World Cup exit in UAE last year, India has swept New Zealand, West Indies, and Sri Lanka at home.

The Indian team will be tested against a determined South Africa, who defeated them in both the Test (2-1) and ODI (3-0) series early in January.

Rohit missed the South Africa tour owing to a hamstring injury sustained during a training session in Mumbai. Rohit is currently leading Mumbai Indians in the IPL but the franchise is enduring one of the worst seasons in 15 years.

Mumbai Indians lost eight of their nine games in IPL 2022 so far, something bizarre for the cricket fans to watch.

Rohit’s individual performance is also under the scanner. The Hitman scored 155 runs in nine innings at an abysmal average of 17.22.

Rohit is yet to breach the 50-run mark this season with 41 against Delhi Capitals being his highest score. The Mumbai Indians’ skipper registered an unwanted record of most ducks in the IPL history (14).

Considering his form and the workload management, the BCCI might rest the Indian skipper to give him time for getting into the groove.

Let us look at three players who can step up in case Rohit Sharma remains unavailable to lead India in the five-match T20I series.

IND vs SA: 3 Indian Players Who Can Captain Team India If Rohit Sharma Is Rested For T20I Series

1) KL Rahul

The Karnataka player is the vice-captain of India in all three formats. Rahul led India in the second Test in Johannesburg as Kohli suffered a back spasm hours before the match.

Rahul also captained India in all three ODI matches against the Proteas in Rohit’s absence. However, India lost all the matches under Rahul’s leadership.

But Rahul is having a fantastic time in leading the new IPL team Lucknow Super Giants this season so far. LSG is slotted in the second position of the points table and is just behind fellow IPL debutants Gujarat Titans.

2) Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas is someone who keeps calm during the crunch situations of the game. He was handed Delhi Capitals (then Daredevils) captaincy in the middle of IPL 2018.

Changing the fortunes of the franchise, Shreyas took them to the playoffs in IPL 2019 after a span of seven years and the following year Capitals made their maiden appearance in the IPL final.

Shreyas was named the new captain of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2022. The team started with three wins in first four matches but suffered five straight losses in a row. They halted the losing streak with a seven-wicket win against RR.

Shreyas is often touted to be the captain of the Indian team down the line.

3) Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah was named Rohit’s deputy for both T20I and Test series against Sri Lanka in February as KL Rahul was unavailable for selection due to an injury.

Bumrah could follow Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins in shattering the norms of a fast bowler leading the team.

The Indian bowling spearhead could become more dangerous once he dons the captain’s armband.