Picture Credit: X
India will be up against South Africa in the 1st T20I of the series which starts on December 9. With ODIs now done and dusted, the momentum now shifts to the much-awaited T20I series, where India and South Africa will be up against each other for 5 matches. The last T20 series between these two sides saw Team India beating South Africa 3-1 in their own den. It was a series dominated by Tilak Varma, who scored back-to-back centuries. It was also the series where Sanju Samson excelled as an opener but both of these players were not part of the last T20I team that played in Australia. So let us at look at probable Playing XI for India in this match.
Shubman Gill has joined the squad in Cuttack but it remains to be seen if he is fit enough to play in the 1st T20 it will the management rest him. Sanju Samson will finally be asked to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma incase Gill is rested. In the middle order, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma may shuffle their position at 3 and 4. Whereas Axar Patel should continue to play the role of a floater if wickets are lost early.
The team can also think of sending Shivam Dube above Axar if spinners are in place. Overall, expect a flexible batting order in the lineup, with Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar playing the role of the finishers in the team.
Whereas the spin department shall be led by Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and one of Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar. Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead the pace bowling attack with Hardik and Dube as the second and third seamer in the side. Another option could be to play Arshdeep instead of Kuldeep if the surface is helpful for pacers early on.
India’s probable Playing XI for 1st T20I against SA
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson/ Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav©, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav
