South Africa could prove a handful for India

Pant to lead, Hardik named deputy after Rahul, Kuldeep report injuries

An experimental India would have found the going tough against a formidable South Africa in the five-match T20 series. To add to the challenge, the injured duo of skipper K.L. Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav pulled out of the series on the eve of Thursday’s opening clash at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.

Rahul picked up a right groin injury whereas Kuldeep was hit on the hand while batting in the nets on Tuesday evening.

Rishabh Pant was handed over the captaincy and Hardik Pandya was named his deputy. The National selectors are yet to name replacements for the two injured players.

Given the strengths of the team, there is no clear favourite. Moreover, in the shortest format of the game, more than the man-to-man superiority, focus remains on clinching the key moments.

With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah having been rested and Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar and Surya Kumar Yadav nursing injuries, India appears set to test comeback men Dinesh Karthik and Hardik besides the untested duo of Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik.

Struggling for form, Pant now leads a bunch that includes Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan in the top-order. Shreyas Iyer’s presence lends a touch of assurance.

Leg-spinner Yuzuvendra Chahal could hold the key though some pacers will try to reinforce their claim to a more permanent spot in the playing XI. However, it remains to be seen how many from the squad — now reduced to 16 — make it to the playing XI in this series.