1st T20I: Young India aim for right answers in tough Proteas 'test'
sturdy South African side in a three-match T20 International starting here on Sunday. With injured skipper Hardik Pandya out till the start of IPL, lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah taking a break and not much clarity over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's T20 future ahead of the World Cup in June, one wouldn't be able to read much into either success or failure of the team in South Africa.
A clearer picture about India's core for the T20 showpiece would only emerge after a month of cash-rich IPL, with form and fitness at that point being the criteria for selection.
If Rohit and Virat are picked in the playing XI, the core will suddenly become very different from the team that is now touring 'Rainbow Nation'.
Suryakumar Yadav led side beat Australia 4-1 on fabulous batting tracks at home but even the most partisan Indian fan would agree that there was so much less at stake in a series that was held within 72 hours of the World Cup.
Australia's core bowling attack was rested and some of the seniors were so tired that they left for home after the third game, having spent almost nine weeks in India.
The South Africa series in that context is the last big international T20 series that India play followed by one against Afghanistan in mid-January.
Even with their pace bowling mainstays, Kagiso Rabada (rested) and Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi injured, the Proteas at home will be more than a handful.
Batting Combination conundrum
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India are carrying 17 players for the T20 series and only three of them — Shreyas Iyer, Mukesh Kumar and Ishan Kishan are also part of the 50-over format.
