IND vs SA: Mohsin Khan Likely To Get India Call-Up Ahead Of Umran Malik For SA T20Is - Reports
Many top players, including captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, are likely to be rested for the next five-match T20 series against South Africa, in preparation for the showpiece trip to England in July.
In addition, the national selection committee is expected to exclude Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant from the series against the Proteas’. Mohsin Khan who has impressed with his bowling for Lucknow Super Giants is likely to get a call up ahead of Umran Malik for the series.
Either Sikhar Dhawan or Hardik Pandya To Lead India Against South Africa
Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who wowed everyone with his captaincy for Gujarat Titans in the IPL-15, are said to be in the running for the leadership post for both South Africa and the short two-match T20I series against Ireland.
The T20 series against the Proteas will begin on June 9 in the national capital, with the remaining matches taking place in Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, and Bengaluru.
The squad for the SA series is expected to be announced in Mumbai on May 22nd, the final day of the league phase of this year’s IPL.
While Umran Malik’s 150 kmph plus speed has piqued interest, there is a perception that he is still too raw, and that time with the India A team could help him mature.
While Arshdeep Singh, the death overs specialist, remains in the mix, Lucknow Super Giants’ left-armer Mohsin Khan is emerging as a ‘Dark Horse.’
“Our pace bowling department is set and selectors might not experiment too much,” a senior source in the BCCI told PTI.
“But yes, Mohsin has impressed almost everyone with his pace, bounce and swing in this edition. He does have a chance. Having said that, not ruling out Umran or Arshdeep either, but Mohsin might just be slightly ahead,” he added.
Regardless of their current IPL form, most of the players who recently played in the T20 series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies are expected to be retained.
The injury to Suryakumar Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja must obviously be considered, as will the absence of Deepak Chahar. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, as well as Dhawan and Hardik Pandya, are expected to constitute the batting unit’s nucleus.
Sanju Samson could also be kept, with a maximum of one left-field pick in the squad.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Harshal Patel, and Avesh Khan, along with Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, are all certainties in the bowling unit. Kuldeep Yadav is expected to make the team as well.
