India vs South Africa 2022 Predicted T20 Series Squad for Team India

India vs South Africa 2022: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to be rested as we look at the best predicted T20 series squad for Team India.  

Update: You can see the official squad for Team India for T20 Series vs South Africa and Fifth Test match vs England from this link.

Cricket fans in India are currently enjoying IPL 2022, which is at the business end of the tournament. With hardly 4-5 matches left for all Teams, they are all focused on the top 4 spots. While all Indian players are currently busy in the IPL, as soon as the tournament gets over, India would begin their busy International calendar. 

Team India’s first assignment after IPL 2022 is the T20 series against South Africa. The 5-match series would begin just after IPL 2022 on June 9th, and would conclude on June 19th. As soon as this series gets over, India would be headed to England for a one-off Test match and the T20I series against England and Ireland. 

After a hectic IPL schedule, which would run for more than 2 months, it would be ideal to give rest to the senior pros so that they are fresh for the one-off Test and the jam-packed International schedule. But which all players will be rested and which new players get a chance for the South Africa T20 series. 

Ideally, the senior players who would be representing the Test match should be rested as the Test match is more important being a part of the World Test Championship. While IPL may influence the selection, India should retain most of the squad that defeated Sri Lanka in the T20I series. So, having said that, let’s look at the best predicted squad for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs South Africa (SA). 

Openers: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Shikhar Dhawan

Team India should most-likely rest their first-choice opening duo for the Test series, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul for this series. In absence of these, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are ideally backup openers for Team India should get a place in the final 18-members squad. Both may not be in the bests form currently, but have all the potential to bounce back. 

As a third-choice opener, it should be a selection between the fire of Prithvi Shaw and the experience of Shikhar Dhawan. Both have been in brilliant form in the current IPL, but with the ICC tournament in mind, India might want to give Shikhar Dhawan another chance. This would be a wise decision as Dhawan is in red hot form, and usually does well in the ICC tournaments. 

Middle-order: Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson & Dinesh Karthik

The middle-order should see Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer being rested. In place of them, India should continue to play Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. While Suryakumar Yadav is a regular member of the squad, Sanju Samson has been in contention for the T20 team. In addition, Dinesh Karthik’s stunning form in the IPL should help him bag the finisher role in the team.  

With all senior pros being rested, ideally, Rishabh Pant should have also have been rested having played continuous cricket. But with Pant being young, this series would be an ideal start to his International captaincy career; a transition that should eventually come from Rohit Sharma to Rishabh Pant.   

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda & Venkatesh Iyer

The all-rounder section should see the return of Hardik Pandya, who seems to have gained full fitness as seen in the IPL. Not only is he batting well but he is also bowling with full speed.He should be well supported by Deepak Hooda and Venkatesh Iyer, who were a part of the Sri Lanka T20 series, and also did well there. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja should continue to be rested to be fresh for the Test series. 

Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi & Kuldeep Yadav

Coming to the spinners, it should be the same trio that also played the T20 series vs Sri Lanka. All three are in the stunning form currently, and should be the ones tried completely ahead of the World Cup. The team could also think of Washington Sundar or Axar Patel. But it seems they could be rested for this series. 

Pacers:  Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan & T Natarajan

Coming to pacers, India would rest their three key pacers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. All three are a part of the Test squad, and should get the well-needed break. In place of these three, Bhuvneshwar Kumar should lead the pace attack. He should be well supported by Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan. Both were also part of the T20 squad vs Sri Lanka, and will get more chances.  

Meanwhile, the main focus of the T20 team would be on T Natarajan and Umran Malik. Both have been in superb form in the current IPL, and deserve a go in the team. Umran Malik’s pace has been a talking point, and he deserves a go in the team for that. He needs to improve on his length, and what better place than the Indian team for that. Meanwhile, India would be banking on the death bowling of T Natarajan.  

India vs SA 2022 – Best Predicted T20 Series Squad for Team India: 

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan & Suryakumar Yadav

Wks: Dinesh Karthik, Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant & Sanju Samson

All-rounders: Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya & Venkatesh Iyer

Bowlers: Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, T Natarajan, Umran Malik & Yuzvendra Chahal

Coach: Rahul Dravid // Captain: Rishabh Pant // Vice-captain: Hardik Pandya

So, that completes the best predicted squad for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs South Africa (SA). Apart from the ones mentioned above, we could see the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, etc. in the Ireland T20 series.

Here’s the schedule for India vs South Africa 2022 T20 Series:

• 1st T20I // June 9 // Delhi
• 2nd T20I // June 12 // Cuttack
• 3rd T20I // June 14 // Visakhapatnam 
• 4th T20I // June 17 // Rajkot
• 5th T20I // June 19 // Bengaluru

Thanks for reading! What’s your predicted squad for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs SA 2022? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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