India vs South Africa 2nd T20I: With only five games left to World Cup, audition time running out

A washout in the first match of the India vs South Africa series robbed the auditioning youngsters of valuable time. The think tanks will be hoping for clear weather conditions in the second of the three-match series at Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

In the current scenario, the Indian team management might end up relying on IPL form to decide who makes the cut for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA.

Shubman Gill, who didn’t take the field in the T20 series against Australia held right after the World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh seem to be the only definites in the batting order for the ICC event in six months.

Durban 🛫 Gqeberha 🛬#TeamIndia have arrived ahead of the 2nd T20I.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/wjsP2vAq6U

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 11, 2023

Both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have runs to show but if Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma make themselves available for the World Cup, the duo would need a sensational effort in the IPL to make it.

Like Rinku, Jitesh Sharma is also being seen as a finisher in the shortest format. After showing promise against Australia, Jitesh will be hoping for more game time against the Proteas.

In the bowling department, only Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, rested for this series, are a certainties to make the World Cup squad. It leaves the door ajar for many to make themselves count.

Deepak Chahar, still in India due to personal reasons, was picked for the series but may not get the chance to showcase his abilities.

Both Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi, who impressed in the T20s against the Aussies, would like to carry their good form into the series. Ravindra Jadeja, who went on a break after the World Cup, has also linked up with the squad.

Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee (1st and 2ndT20Is), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen (1st and 2nd T20Is), Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams.

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