The first T20I match between India and South Africa will be played in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley stadium on June 9 and former India head coach Ravi Shastri has named his India playing XI for this match which will be played on Thursday.
India will be captained by KL Rahul in this T20I series which sees two uncapped pacers in Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh given their maiden India call-up. Also making his India team comeback is all-rounder Hardik Pandya who was missing in action since T20 World Cup 2021.
The former India all-rounder picked Ruturaj Gaikwad and KL Rahul as his two opening batters. And then slotted Ishan Kishan at no.3. For the middle order, Shastri picked Shreyas Iyer at no.4, Rishabh Pant at no.5, and Hardik Pandya at no. 6.
"I think they will go with the guys they will want to see first - the Rahuls, the Ruturaj Gaikwads - maybe they will open. They will probably give Ishan (Kishan) a break in this game or bat him at three. If you bat him (Ishan) at three, then it will be Shreyas (Iyer) at No. 4, (Rishabh) Pant at No. 5 and Hardik (Pandya) at No. 6,” Shastri was quoted as saying on Star Sports show 'Game Plan'.
As for the all-rounders and bowlers, Shastri’s sure shot picks were Akshar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yuzvendra Chahal. However, he was not sure about selecting either Arshdeep Singh or Umran Malik.
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"No. 7 will be Akshar Patel. I think eight will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar batting-wise, then Chahal, Arshdeep Singh/Umran Malik, and Harshal Patel. Umran or Arshdeep depending on the ground and what the pitch is like. I think if Bhuvi plays, then Umran is better because Bhuvi can do a job for you at the death. But then again, you are looking for someone at the death, they are looking to develop that bowler. So if Harshal is going to do that, he plays that game,” Shastri added.
Shastri however, kept the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Venkatesh Iyer out of his XI for the first T20I against South Africa.
Ravi Shastri’s India XI for the 1st T20I vs South Africa:
KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh/Umran Malik, Harshal Patel.
