India vs South Africa 2023: Strongest T20 Squad and Players List

Suryakumar Yadav to continue to lead as we look at the strongest T20 squad and players list for India vs South Africa 2023. 

We as cricket fans are yet to recover from the loss of the 2023 World Cup final, but the Indian team is already going bang bang with the preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup. While India are currently playing the T20 series vs Australia, India will be touring South Africa for a 3-match T20 series starting December 10.

With so much of T20 cricket planned in the coming days, the biggest question for the selectors would be the selection of the squad for the T20 series vs South Africa. As we know, along with senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, T20 stars like Jasprit Bumrah and Shubman Gill will be eyeing a comeback.

But will the Indian team get back the ODI stars after seeing the dominating performance of the current young squad? Well, let’s analyze the current potential players, and find out the strongest squad that Team India may select for the 2023 T20 series vs South Africa.

Team India’s Best T20 Squad for South Africa Series:

Batters – Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma & Yashasvi Jaiswal

If we talk about the batters, India have plenty of options even without Rohit and Virat. Given the ODI and Test series follow the T20 series, and the current form of young Indian batters, it looks unlikely Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make a comeback for this series. So, expect them to be rested once again. However, expect Shubman Gill to make a comeback from the current potential players a lot.

But honestly, none of the current batters deserve to be dropped. So, even as Shubman Gill makes a comeback, none from Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav seems to get dropped. The only position where Gill may come in is that of Shivam Dube, who anyway may not get a place in the final playing 11.

WKs – Ishan Kishan & Jitesh Sharma

Coming to the wicket-keepers, the main question is whether KL Rahul will make a comeback as a keeper in the squad in place of Jitesh Sharma. Well, talks are definitely there given the flexibility KL Rahul could bring while paying in the middle-order. However, India does not have much time before the T20 World Cup. Hence, at least for this series, Jitesh Sharma will continue as the keeper. 

All-rounders – Axar Patel & Washington Sundar

Talking about the All-rounders, India shall once again be without their primary Captain and All-rounder, Hardik Pandya. But with Hardik not there, will India bring in Ravindra Jadeja? Well, India already have a like-for-like All-rounder Axar Patel, who is doing well. So, Jadeja’s comeback may be delayed for now. However, to support Axar, India will persist with Washington Sundar as they did against Australia. 

Bowlers – Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah & Ravi Bishnoi

Finally, talking about the bowlers, which seem to be the weakest link in the current T20 team. India definitely need Jasprit Bumrah to make a comeback. Bumrah was rested for the Australia T20 series, but with only 6 more T20Is to go before the World Cup, India would want Bumrah to play all the T20Is from now on. 

Other than Bumrah, India shall continue with Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, and yorker specialist Mukesh Kumar. However, the main discussion points shall be the selection of Prasidh Krishna and Avesh Khan. Will India persist with these two, or they switch back to Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, who along with Bumrah and Arshdeep may form a great pace quartet? 

Well, if we honestly analyze, neither Avesh nor Prasidh is good enough to be in the T20 squad, forget playing 11. But with 15 players already in the squad, India may have to go with one from Siraj or Shami. While Shami can come in anytime, India may go with Siraj to test the waters. However, If India decide to select 17 players, Shami could also get in. 

India vs South Africa 2023 Strongest T20 Squad for Indian Team:

Batters: Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma & Yashasvi Jaiswal

WKs: Ishan Kishan & Jitesh Sharma

All-rounders: Axar Patel & Washington Sundar

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah & Ravi Bishnoi

So, that’s about the strongest squad and players for Team India for the 2023 T20 series vs South Africa. Overall, India may select 16-17 players, and the key discussion points shall be the selection of senior players and key T20 players who were absent from the T20 series vs Australia. Meanwhile, here’s the official schedule for the India vs South Africa 2023 T20 series. 

India vs South Africa 2023 T20 Series Schedule:

• 1st T20I – Dec 10 @ Durban
• 2nd T20I – Dec 12 @ Gqeberha
• 3rd T20I – Dec 14 @ Johannesburg

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