New Delhi: Keeping in mind the Indian cricket team's crucial tour of England in July, several senior players, including captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, will be rested from the upcoming India's five-match T20 International series against South Africa, PTI reported. Apart from the duo, the selection committee will likely rest Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant for the South Africa series.
As per the PTI report, senior opener Shikhar Dhawan and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has impressed everyone with his captaincy for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022, have been given the responsibility of leading the limited-overs series against South Africa at home and then on India's tour of Ireland.
“All the senior India players will get at least three-and-a-half weeks of complete rest. Rohit, Virat, K. L., Rishabh and Jasprit will all directly go to England for the ‘fifth Test’ following the white-ball series. We need all our key players to remain fresh for the England series,” a senior BCCI source privy to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
India cricket team's T20I series against South Africa will begin in June with the first match being played in New Delhi and the remaining in Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot and Bengaluru respectively.
The Indian team is likely to be selected for the South Africa series in Mumbai on May 22, the last day of the league phase of IPL 2022. Virat Kohli, who is struggling with his form, will also be given the necessary rest. The tour of England in early July is very important for the selectors as well as the BCCI.
Umran Malik has received a lot of backing from former cricketers with his ability to bowl top-speed deliveries but looks like he is not ready for a national team call-up. Along with death over specialist Arshdeep Singh, Lucknow Super Giants left-arm bowler Mohsin Khan may get a chance to make debut for India.
“Our pace bowling department is set and selectors might not experiment too much,” he said.
“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.