IND vs SA: 3 Indian Players Who Can Make Their Debut In 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).

The selectors will have a keen eye on emerging players of this IPL edition and they might give chance to the pool of talented players considering India will play against England in July followed by the Asia Cup in the August-September window.

Let us look at three uncapped players who can make an international debut in the five-match series against the Proteas.

IND vs SA: 3 Indian Players Who Can Make Their Debut

1) Umran Malik

Malik has been consistent with his searing pace and that creates a terror in the batter’s mind. Bowling at the speed of 150kph has been a routine for the Jammu & Kashmir pace sensation.

In SRH’s clash against Gujarat Titans, the 22-year-old claimed his maiden fifer in T20 cricket with figures of 5/25.

Malik has claimed 15 wickets in nine matches of IPL 2022 so far at an average of 19.13 and an economy rate of 8.44. Malik is SRH’s second most wicket-taker behind left-arm pacer T Natarajan – 17 wickets in nine matches.

Malik became the fourth bowler to bowl a maiden in the 20th over of an innings. He joined Lasith Malinga, Irfan Pathan, and Jaydev Unadkat to achieve the milestone.

Reports have suggested that the Indian selectors have kept their eyes on the Indian youngster and it is likely for him to get roped in for South Africa T20I series in June.

2) Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh has paired with New Zealand speedster Trent Boult as Royals’ new-ball bowling combination.

The Karnataka bowler has claimed 12 wickets in 10 games of IPL 2022 so far with an economy rate of 7.92.

Delhi Capitals needed 36 runs in the final two overs to complete the chase with Rovman Powell (16 off nine balls) and Lalit Yadav (37 in 21 deliveries) looking well-settled at the crease.

Prasidh got the better of Lalit on the third bowl of the penultimate over and further bowled a maiden wicket over to turn the match on its head.

Prasidh has played seven One-Day International matches for India since debuting against England last year. However, the Karnataka pacer is yet to play Test and T20I cricket for the Indian team.

3) Ayush Badoni

Badoni has been one of the finds of IPL 2022 amongst the pool of emerging players.

The 22-year-old, on his IPL debut, scored 54 in 41 balls against a formidable bowling attack of Gujarat Titans comprised of  Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, and Rashid Khan.

The youngster displayed a spectacular array of strokes against the searing pace of Ferguson and slog-swept Rashid Khan’s googly for a six-over-deep mid-wicket.

Badoni hasn’t been able to meet the consistency mark, he scored 102 runs in the first four innings, striking at 156.92. But the Delhi player could add only 36 runs in the last four innings with the strike rate dipping to 138.

His ability to play with a calm and composed character and absorb the pressure in crunch situations has earned him plaudits from cricket experts. LSG skipper KL Rahul dubbed him as ‘Baby AB’ after his gritty knock on his IPL debut.