This is the first time India will play South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban for the 1st T20I match of the four match series which is expected to commence on Thursday (November 8).
Suryakumar Yadav should be an upbeat person after having been appointed the captain of the team as the squad has not yet lost a series under his tenure.
The T20 World Cup 2024 was won a tweaking hierarchy in the first class level as established players such as virat, rohit and Ravindra jaded left the T20I and made way for the younger players.
Chances are that the likes of Yash Dayal and Ramandeep Singh could get their debut caps. The former had a pretty good season in the 2024 edition of Indian Premier League where he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and seems to possess the skills required to do well in the shortest format. He is a very good young fast bowler who has impressed with his ability to swing the new ball both ways and has a good range of yorkers for the death overs, making him a great pace bowler to have for this game in Durban.
In contrast, Ramandeep has also done well with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, and even better in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 for India A, where he seems best suited to the role of a lower middle-order batting all-rounder. A powerful hitter of the ball and a dependable fielder, he can also bowl medium pace for a few overs to help the team. Given that he possesses such qualities, it would not be wrong to suggest that he might be included in the match day squad for the game tomorrow.
After his terrific hundred against Bangladesh, Sanju Samson is expected to replace the opener’s slot; he will possibly open the batting with Abhishek Sharma. The Captain will without a doubt remain in the number 3 position.
A return of Tilak Varma could also be on the cards after 10 months. He was last in action during the T20I against Afghanistan this January and given his recent form with the bat in India A games, he could claw his way back in the team.
There is also the hope that Axar Patel can come back into the team after his previous Sri Lanka tour. His skill with bat and ball is something that India may wish to exploit against the strong attacking unit that South Africa prides itself in.
Arshdeep Singh is most likely to retain the spot as their principal fast-bowling option and Ravi Bishnoi could fill in as the suitable leg spinner for the Indian team.
India’s Probable 11 For 1st T20I vs South Africa: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Dayal.
