BCCI announces 15-member squad for T20Is against South Africa
What's the story
The BCCI selection committee led by MSK Prasad announced a 15-member Team India squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. The three-match T20I series is set to start from September 15 onwards. India have gone ahead with a similar squad that faced West Indies earlier this month. Notably, MS Dhoni was not included in the squad. Here's more.
Pandya returns
Pandya returns to the side, Bhuvi and Bumrah rested
Hardik Pandya has made a return to the team after being rested for the tour of West Indies. He replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the squad of 15. Premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the white-ball series against WI, is absent once again. The rest of the squad is same. India had beaten WI 3-0 in the T20Is earlier.
Faith
Selectors keep faith in T20I squad that faced WI
The selectors have kept faith in the T20I squad that faced the Windies. The main focus for the selectors and the management is to prepare a settled side for the ICC World T20 in 2020. For now, India's wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav too were excluded. Washington Sundar and Rahul Chahar keep their places. The selectors decided to trust the same players.
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A look at India's 15-member squad
India's squad for T20Is against SA: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini.
Dhoni
Decision to snub Dhoni was likely
As reported earlier, veteran wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni was expected to be snubbed for this series. The Indian selectors are keen to build a road map for the future with the World T20 in mind. Rishabh Pant will continue to don the gloves. It remains to be seen how the situation regarding Dhoni pans out. For now, he remains out.
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Both MSD and selectors will have to take a call
India's next white-ball assignment is in November when Bangladesh tour the nation for three T20I matches. Selectors will have to take a big call on Dhoni's future. It remains to be seen whether Dhoni decides to retire or shows interest in playing.