With the T20 World Cup set to take place later this year in Australia, the preparation and the build-up to that would start in Delhi on 9th June as India will be clashing against a full-strength South African side.
India’s Designated captain Rohit Sharma, former captain Virat Kohli, and premier paceman Jasprit Bumrah are among the list of players who have been rested for this series after more than two months of IPL cricket.
After crashing out early in last year’s T20 WorldCup, Team India does not want to keep any stone unturned as it gets ready for the big tournament. KL Rahul will lead the Men in Blue in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The hosts are unbeaten in 12 T20Is at present.
Kl Rahul & Kuldeep Yadav Ruled Out Of The T20I Series Against South Africa
Stand-in India Captain Ruled Out of T20I Series vs South Africa due to a groin injury. Young Rishabh Pant and Delhi Capitals’ captain would now be leading the India team.
KL Rahul was scheduled to do a presser today at 5:00 PM IST, but he could not attend it. Rishabh Pant would be leading India for the very first time and hence eyes would be on him. He has led Delhi Capitals in the past in the IPL, but this would be a totally different and new thing for him.
It is understood that Kuldeep Yadav, The Chinaman has also suffered an injury forcing him out of the marquee series. He will join KL Rahul in a ride to the national cricket academy at the earliest.
The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant as Captain and Hardik Pandya as vice-captain for the home series against South Africa. The selection committee has not named a replacement for KL Rahul.
KL Rahul will now go to NCA for rehab and will likely be available for the all-important Test match against England in England starting from the first week of July.
India’s T20I squad: Rishabh Pant (Captain)(wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik