Delhi Opener Shikhar Dhawan and Baroda All-Rounder Hardik Pandya are in line to lead India in the T20I series against South Africa on home soil. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah will be rested.
Pandya has been a commendable leader in his first season as a captain. Moreover, Gujarat Titans have become the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the ongoing IPL. Whereas the veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan has led the team in the past in the absence of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.
Thus, Hardik or Shikhar could be the ones to turn to for captaincy in the absence of regular names.
“Shikhar Dhawan, as he has already captained India in the absence of Virat, Rohit, and Rahul. Hardik’s captaincy at Gujarat Titans hasn’t gone unnoticed either”, said a BCCI source.
The spokesperson added that it would be a close call between Pandya and Shikhar for captaincy against South Africa.
India plays South Africa in a 5-match T20I series, starting on 9th June. The games are to be played in Delhi, Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, and Bengaluru respectively.
Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah are to Be Rested against South Africa
India’s key players will be rested for the series against South Africa after a hectic IPL schedule. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah will be rested for the series against South Africa and possibly even Ireland.
“All the senior India players will get at least three and half weeks of rest. Rohit, Virat, KL, Rishabh, and Jasprit will all directly go to England for the ‘fifth Test’ following the white-ball series”, said the BCCI Official. He stressed that key players should be fully fit ahead of the away series against England.
India’s squad to face South Africa will be announced on May 22, 2022.
