Players Who Might Get a Chance to Play Against South Africa

The Indian cricket team is scheduled to tour South Africa from December 2023 to January 2024 for a comprehensive series comprising three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and two Test matches.

This highly anticipated tour will be a crucial test for the Indian team as they look to establish their dominance in the away conditions.

After a disappointing ending to the ODI World Cup, it is an opportunity for both teams to forget the past and prepare for future challenges.

Team India will be eying to try some different combinations of players for all the formats and BCCI is expected to give chances to some new faces and there will be some names who might make a comeback to any of the formats.

1) Ravi Bishnoi

A young leg-spinner, Ravi Bishnoi has emerged as a potential match-winner in recent times. His ability to turn the ball sharply and deceive the batsmen will be a valuable asset in South Africa’s spin-friendly conditions.

Bishnoi has been a key player when it comes to the T20 format for team India. He has picked up 13 wickets in 9 fixtures in the year 2023 at an average of 18.38 and maintains an economy of 7.46.

During the 2022-23 season, Bishnoi has been more effective on international conditions as he has 9 wickets on his name and maintains an average of 20.88.

2) Umran Malik

Malik’s impressive speed and accuracy have caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts in the year 2022 post-Indian Premier League.

However, the much-anticipated debut was not as good as it was expected. Malik has been sidelined and he played his last fixture for team India in July 2023 against West Indies in a 50-over game.

Umran’s speed will be helpful in the Proteas pitches where bowlers like Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen have been successful at the home pitches. BCCI might opt to give him a chance in a limited-over format during the tour.

3) Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad has also displayed remarkable consistency in his recent performances against Australia. His knock of 123 runs off 57 balls in the third T20I of the 2023 series against Australia showcased his aggressive strokeplay and ability to build partnerships.

Gaikwad’s innings were instrumental in propelling India to a formidable total of 222/3, despite the eventual loss in a thrilling match.

His knock was characterized by a combination of elegance and power, with 13 boundaries and seven sixes. If given more chances, Gaikwad can be an added advantage while team India plays against South Africa.

4) Rinku Singh

Since his exceptional performance in IPL 2023, Rinku Singh has been on the list of BCCI and the selection committee.

His recent performances against Australia have been particularly impressive, showcasing his versatility and ability to contribute at the lower-middle order. Singh’s knock of 31* off 9 balls in the second T20I of the 2023 series against Australia was a match-winning effort.

His innings were characterized by clean hitting and smart decision-making, guiding India to a close victory. The time has come to test him on the international pitches for BCCI and Rinku must play during the Proteas tour.

5) Tilak Varma

It is expected that the senior players will be coming back in action against South Africa but Tilak has demonstrated his capabilities against Australia in recent matches.

BCCI should consider him and prepare him for future challenges. Varma’s ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries at crucial junctures proved valuable for India’s chase.

His innings helped India secure a comfortable victory and showcased his potential as a future star for the Indian team.