How India’s T20WC team will be shaped by the South Africa series

Three weeks have passed since the tragedy in Ahmedabad. Furthermore, the Indian ship has already steered away due to a strict international schedule that has caused them to completely refocus on the June 2024 T20 World Cup. The Suryakumar Yadav-led team, lacking some of the major names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and

Jasprit Bumrah, among others, is all set to begin their three-match T20I series in South Africa after a good campaign at home against Australia.

In Durban, the same city that hosted Yuvraj Singh’s famous “six-sixes” moment during one of India’s group-stage matches en route to a 2007 World T20 title claim, the Twenty20 International series against South Africa gets underway on January 10. Ahead of the match, we examine how the three-match match could mold India’s World Cup squad.

Who will be the first-choice openers for the T20 World Cup? is one of the most important questions that will need to be resolved throughout this series. Recall that Rohit, who hasn’t played for the Indian team in the T20I format since November 2022, has decided not to play in the shortest format and has prolonged his leave of absence for the duration of the South Africa series as well. This suggests that India has three possibilities from which to choose.

In order to establish their worth, Jaiswal and Gaikwad were given the full five-match T20I series against Australia, and they produced impressive results. With a strike rate of 159.28, the latter amassed 223 runs in five innings, including a half-century knock and an undefeated 123. While Jaiswal, a left-hander, did not score as many runs as Gaikwad (138 in five innings with a fifty), his strike rate of 168.29 was noteworthy.

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To make room for Gill, who was rested for the Australia matches following a demanding World Cup campaign, India will have to dismiss one of them. After making his debut in the format earlier this year, the 24-year-old hit a record 126* before leading the Gujarat Titans to an IPL season with 900 runs.