Sixteen years ago, it was in South Africa where India had recognised its pool of T20 players. A young side under Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the inaugural edition of the World T20 a few months after crashing out of the ODI World Cup. In 2023, head coach Rahul Dravid has a task cut out in the three-match series starting in Durban on Sunday.
Suryakumar Yadav (aka SKY) is the acting captain as Hardik Pandya continues to nurse his ankle injury. With only six T20Is left for Team India to sort out the squad and strategy for the next T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies, the series against the Proteas will be a litmus test to gauge the temperament of the new Indian side.
There is still no transparency over Rohit Sharma and senior pro Virat Kohli's participation. The duo haven't featured in a T20I since the semifinal loss to England in the T20 World Cup in Australia. There is a belief that the Board of Control for Cricket in India may turn to Sharma for leadership duties since Pandya has been injury-prone.
Sharma has already sought clarity from the Board about his role in the next T20 World Cup.
A tale of multiple captains
Team India is on the verge of an intense transition phase, especially in the white-ball formats, as the growing uncertainty over captain Sharma continues. The ODI captain wanted a break from the white-ball games in South Africa, although the Board wanted him to play to prepare the core group for the T20 World Cup.
Pandya led India in 16 T20Is, resulting in 10 wins and five losses. His last outing as skipper, in the West Indies, resulted in a 3-2 series defeat. Then, the focus shifted to Asia Cup ODIs leading to the World Cup.
On the other hand, Yadav's debut assignment as T20I captain awarded him a series against Australia at home.
Finding new finishers
India's 4-1 victory against the Aussies boosted the confidence of the younger players Rinku Singh (middle-order batter) and Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper-batter).
Yadav has already earned respect from the young guns as leader. The players took his advice seriously and delivered the goods in pressure situations. "The number that Rinku (No. 5) and Jitesh (No. 6) has been batting for their state team and the IPL, they have been given the same opportunity here. We have told them to do the same thing they have been doing for their state and the IPL, and nothing different."
"Whenever we were in trouble, they both showed character, and played according to the demands of the team. I told them one thing. Think of the team first and then your personal milestones. Then situation will become easy," Yadav told reporters ahead of the first T20I against Aiden Markram's South Africa.
He is of the opinion that selecting the squad for the T20 World Cup will not be a difficult job since the players will also operate in the Indian Premier League before the tournament. "They've played a lot of games, and they have a lot of experience. So, we don't think there will be an issue because everyone knows their roles."
Overall, in the batting department, India has been looking for hard-hitters who don't use up balls to settle down. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been a breath of fresh air in the top order.
India may continue with Ruturaj and Yashasvi as openers. Shubman Gill could be the New No. 3. They also have the option of trying out Gill and Kishan, the two double centurions in ODI cricket, and good friends off the field.
The return of Deepak Chahar
The return of seam bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar should augur well for the Indian side. The right-arm pacer, who holds the record for best bowling figures in a T20I innings (6/7) among the top tier teams, made a comeback to the Indian team in the Raipur T20I against Australia. He conceded 44 runs and dismissed Matthew Short and Tim David.
Chahar is a seasoned campaigner who, along with Mohammed Siraj, can guide Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar. His timing of arrival in South Africa remains uncertain as his father is recovering from a medical ailment.
Young spinners Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi have already gathered enough experience in international cricket to deliver away from home.
If India wins in South Africa with the existing combination, it could shut doors on a few seniors, like how it happened in 2007. "When you go outside India, you're always out of your comfort zone, and when you do really well out of your comfort zone, it makes a lot of noise and that encourages the boys," he signed off.
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