The five-T20I series is due to get underway on June 9 in Delhi.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif on Wednesday (8th June) said that Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya will have a point to prove in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. He feels that it’s more of a comeback series for them.
Both Hardik and Chahal over the past few months have found themselves in and out of the Indian team. While the leg-spinner was left out of the squad for the T20 World Cup 2021, the all-rounder after that marquee tournament didn’t play a single match for the team due to his fitness issues.
However, they made a staggering comeback in IPL 2022 and made many aware of the fact that they still deserve a place in the Indian side and are an integral part of the team.
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Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chahal set the stage on fire and won the Purple Cap, claiming 27 wickets, most by any spinner in the league. Pandya, on the other hand, led the new team Gujarat Titans (GT) to the title victory. The all-rounder led from the front, scoring 487 runs and also claiming 8 wickets in the IPL 15.
Their performances saw them being named in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. And it is expected that both will feature in the playing XI of the first game on 9th June.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, Kaif said that Chahal and Pandya will have a major point to prove in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa as it will be a comeback series for them.
"Yuzvendra Chahal has a major point to prove. The same goes for Hardik Pandya too, as it is going to be his comeback series. It also remains to be seen whether he is going to bowl or not," Mohammad Kaif said.
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Kaif said that although Ravi Bishnoi's performance in his debut series makes him a tempting choice, India is unlikely to field three spinners together in South Africa.
"India have got Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, and Akshar Patel in the squad. But the question is, how will you play three leg spinners in the starting XI?
“Ravi Bishnoi did well in his debut series, so it becomes difficult to leave him out. But looking at the balance of the squad, a side is unlikely to go with three leg spinners," he said.
This leaves Chahal and Akshar as the best spin options. It remains to be seen what combination team will opt for heading into the T20I series.
After the first game in Delhi, the second and third games will be played on the 12th and 14th of June in Cuttack and Vishakhapatnam respectively. The fourth and fifth match is slated to take place on the 17th and 19th of June in Rajkot and Bengaluru.
(Sportskeeda inputs)