IND vs SA: 3 Young Indian Players Who Can Make Their T20I Debut Against South Africa

The BCCI announced an 18-member squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa that starts from June 9 in New Delhi. The following four games will be held at Cuttack, Vishakhapatnam, Rajkot, and Bangalore on June 12, June 14, June 17, and June 19 respectively. The T20I series will be seen as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has made a comeback to the squad when everyone had ruled him out from playing international cricket ever again. Discarded Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have also made a comeback after their consistent performances in IPL 2022. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the pace attack that will see youngsters like Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh share the new ball with him.

The majority of the players picked in the squad made their T20I debut in 2021 when India travelled to play Sri Lanka in the Island nation. A few of them made their T20I debut in the series against New Zealand at home. A few others, made their T20I debut against Sri Lanka and West Indies just before the IPL 2022 season started.

Many players in this squad are yet to play their first T20I against the South African team. In this article, we pick three youngsters who can make their debut against South Africa.

IND vs SA: 3 Young Indian Players Who Can Make Their T20I Debut Against South Africa

Umran Malik

Malik’s pace has been the biggest highlight of the season. He took everyone by surprise with his raw pace. The Indian cricket fraternity especially hailed him for his unplayable pace and many former cricketers wanted him to be fast-tracked into the Indian cricket team for the T20 World Cup.

He has been given an opportunity in the upcoming T20I series and is primed to make his debut in the very first game. A few cricket experts have also said that Malik should be handled and safeguarded with extreme care so that he can play international cricket for a long time in India.

Also Read: IND vs SA: “Pura Desh Ka Support Mila Mere Umran ko”- Umran Malik’s Father Abdul Rashid Rejoices India Call-Up

Arshdeep Singh

The young Punjab Kings bowler also has shown a lot of promise since the last few IPL seasons. The BCCI finally recognised his talent and has given him an opportunity to show it in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.

Singh can become the second player to make his T20I debut against South Africa and his T20I debut in general. The pace bowled the most number of yorkers in the IPL 2022 season. He ended the season with 10 wickets from 14 games with an economy of less than 8.

Ruturaj Gaikwad / Ishan Kishan

While KL Rahul is certain to open the batting in the first T20I, either Gaikwad or Kishan will be his batting partner. Both of them have already made their respective T20I debut for India but are yet to make their debut against South Africa. Whoever is picked in the first game will become the first player between the two of them to make their T20I debut against the Proteas.

Given that this is a five-match series, the management will try and give game time to all the players keeping an eye on the T20 World Cup preparations.

Also Read: IND vs SA: India’s Playing XI For The 1st T20I (Predicted)