IND vs SA: 5 Young Indian Players Who Might Be Picked In India Squad vs South Africa

Team India think tank will ruminate the options for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later in the October-November period.

Indian head coach Rahul Dravid and the national selectors will surely have their eyes on the ongoing IPL 2022 to chalk out their roadmap for the next six months.

After India’s T20 World Cup exit in the group stage in UAE, the resilience under Rohit Sharma has been well with a whitewash against New Zealand, West Indies, and Sri Lanka on home soil.

However, India must not be complacent and prepare for their tough opponents like South Africa and England. India will play South Africa in the five-match T20I series in June.

This would be their first bilateral series after the conclusion of IPL 2022. The team management is likely to rope in a bunch of youngsters, who have created hype in the cash-rich league tournament.

If these youngsters can pass the test of their character strengths in the Indian colors then they might just add pressure on the selectors with additional options for the T20 World Cup squad.

Let us look at five Indian players who can make it to the South Africa T20I squad for next month.

IND vs SA: 5 Young Indian Players Who Might Be Picked In India Squad vs South Africa

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) Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep is turning himself into a death overs specialist in the company of Kagiso Rabada. In the first eight IPL matches, Arshdeep has an economy rate of 5.66 while bowling in the slog overs (16-20).

However, the left-arm pacer conceded 32 runs against Gujarat Titans on Tuesday (May 3) in three overs during 15-20 overs.

Arshdeep can master bowling the off-cutters and slower deliveries in his arsenal. The left-arm pacer hasn’t been a wicket-taking option but boasts a lot about his strength to block runs.

The Punjab pacer’s economy rate in 10 innings reads 7.85, which is better than Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Natarajan, and Malik. He has picked just four wickets this season so far.

3) Ayush Badoni

Badoni has been one of the foundation of IPL 2022 amongst the 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.

4) 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.

5) Prithvi Shaw

The Delhi Capitals opener has found a new partner in David Warner in the opening slot. Shaw hit back-to-back fifties against KKR and RCB.

He smashed 20-ball 41, pounding seven fours and a six, in an 83-run alliance with Warner against Punjab Kings as Capitals chased 116 in just 10.3 overs.

Shaw aggregates 259 runs in nine innings, striking at 159.88. The 22-year-old made his T20 International debut for India during the Sri Lanka white-ball series last year in July.

Shaw was dismissed for a golden duck by Dushmantha Chameera on his T20I debut. The Mumbai batter couldn’t participate in the remaining two T20I games as he was isolated with eight other players, who were deemed to be close contacts of a COVID-19 positive case in the team– Krunal Pandya.