IND vs SA: 1st T20 - Predicted India Playing XI vs South Africa

India will be hosting South Africa for a five-match T20I series starting June 9, with the first game set to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The tour will conclude on June 19, when the two teams meet for the final T20I of the series. While the Indian selectors have named KL Rahul as the team’s captain, the Proteas team will be led by white-ball skipper Temba Bavuma.

The visitors have announced a full-strength 16-member squad for this series. On the other hand, India has 18 players to pick from in their best XI. While the South African team includes all of its star players, the Indian team will be missing its key players such as former skipper Virat Kohli, all-format skipper Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami as the senior members have been given a break, post the IPL 2022.

Let us have a look at India’s Predicted XI for the 1st T20I:

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad

With KL Rahul’s exit from the series at the very last moment, there are high chances of the Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad getting a push for the series. He made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka last year and could score just 35 runs in two games. He then played the series against West Indies as regular opener KL Rahul was yet again out with injury. Gaikwad took the opening slot and batted alongside Ishan Kishan.

But then again, he was given a chance only during the third and final ODI, when India had already clinched the series. He was the leading run-scorer in the IPL last year, but could not meet the expectation this year. He played a couple of fine knocks for CSK but was not consistent. The opening slot has to be filled in Rahul’s absence and with the senior members missing out on the series, Gaikwad will be positioned on top of the lineup.