New Delhi: India vs South Africa's five-match T20 International series is going to start this week. Indian players will take part in an international series for the first time after IPL 2022. Senior players like skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been rested. KL Rahul will lead a young second-string Indian side against Proteas. Ahead of the much-awaited clash, let's have a look at the predicted playing XI of both the teams for IND vs SA 1st T20 international.
India vs South Africa 1st T20I will be played on June 9 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi from 7 pm IST. Most likely, the Indian team management will include five proper batters, one all-rounder, and five bowlers in their playing XI. There are 4 spots for which there will be two contenders each -- one batsman, one wicketkeeper, and two bowlers.
Skipper KL Rahul and the team management face the challenge of whom to pick among Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik, Umran Malik and Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel.
When it comes to picking among bowlers Umran Malik and Avesh Khan, Khan has more variations and experience than Umran. Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel are known to bowl well in the death overs, so one of these players is expected to get a chance. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav can be included as spinners. Axar Patel will most likely be benched.
India vs SA Predicted playing XI: KL Rahul (capt), Rituraj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer/Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant/Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik/Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel