IND vs SA: "Anybody Who Has A Good Series Will Be Challenging Those Big Boys"- Wasim Jaffer After Shreyas Iyer And Ishan Kishan Shine In 2nd ODI Against South Africa

Players who were selected for the Indian team for the ODI series against South Africa but were not selected for the T20 World Cup have been making a strong case to be in the starting lineup when the first-choice players return.

Even though Shreyas Iyer has been playing exceptionally well in the 50-over format, players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, who scored 80 or more runs in the first and second games, respectively, haven’t hurt their prospects. 

Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan made sure that this wasn’t the case on Sunday in the second game, despite Samson’s unbeaten 86 off 63 in the first ODI failing to lead his team to victory.

Wasim Jaffer Feels Youngsters Are Coming Out To Cement Their Place In The Indian Team

Wasim Jaffer, a former India batsman, believes that with these performances, they will be competing with the big guys. Iyer followed up his 37-ball 50 with a second ODI tonne, while Kishan, who struggled in the previous game, came through with a quick knock of 93 off 84. 

“They are doing their chances no harm. After the T20 World Cup, everybody is going to talk about that 2023 World Cup, which is in India. Shreyas Iyer has been magnificent. In his last six ODI innings, he has got four fifties and one hundred. 

“We might see him in that big batting line-up. He might squeeze in somewhere. Ishan Kishan again… Anybody who has a good series will be challenging those big boys,” Jaffer said in an interaction on ESPNCricinfo. 

Even when the regulars return, Iyer is predicted to remain the No. 4 batter, but players like Sanju Samson and Kishan have made the most of their opportunities. The 161-run partnership between Iyer and Kishan was sufficient for India to chase down the remaining 279 runs, tie the series at 1, and go to the final in Delhi. 

Also Read: IND vs SA: “There Were Too Many People Watching”- Ishan Kishan Opens Up On Playing At His Home Ground