IND vs SA: I Think India's Squad For The T20 World Cup Is Already Shortlisted: Sanjay Bangar

After losing the first two games of the T20I series against South Africa, Team India produced an incredible comeback to tie the series at 2-2. The Rishabh Pant-led team stayed unchanged throughout the four games and bounced back in the series with a 48-run victory over the Proteas in Vizag and an 82-run victory over the South Africans at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot.

Even after losing the second T20I, a number of former cricketers and fans were startled by India’s hesitation to make changes in the XI. Former India cricketers Ashish Nehra and Aakash Chopra advised dropping Avesh Khan from the XI after the third game’s win, but the team management stood firm, and Avesh enjoyed the benefits in Rajkot, with figures of 4/18 in four overs.

The Likes Of Umran Malik Have Been Included In The Squad To Give Them The Experience Of Being Part Of The National Side: Sanjay Bangar

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar offered an interesting insight about the side’s unchanged XIs in the series ahead of the Rajkot T20I, as the talk touched on India’s upcoming T20I series against Ireland as well as the T20 World Cup preparations.

“I think Umran Malik, for example, is brought into the squad to make him familiar with the dressing room atmosphere, and how an international team functions. Because IPL is a domestic league at the end of the day and international cricket is a step up from that. So, some players have been selected in the squad to give them that experience,” Bangar said on Star Sports.

“I believe that the 11 players who have played in this series so far, and the first-team players who are rested, I think those 17-18 players have already been shortlisted (for the T20 World Cup squad),” Bangar further said.

It must be noted that senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were rested from the series.

Also Read: IND vs SA: India Is Unquestionably The favourite, But South Africa’s Adaptability Is A Concern – Morne van Wyk Ahead Of 5th T20I