No Dinesh Karthik In Ravi Shastri's Playing XI For India vs South Africa In 1st T20I

Ravi Shastri's picked the playing XI for the 1st T20I vs South Africa to be played at Delhi on 9th June.

After two months of playing against each other in the highly competitive Indian Premier League (IPL), the Indian team will be back together for their next assignment against South Africa for a five-match T20I series which will begin on 9th June in Delhi. 

With several key players rested for the series, KL Rahul will be leading a fairly new-look young Indian squad in this series with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. There are a few new faces and comeback faces in the squad as well namely: Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Dinesh Karthik, and Hardik Pandya. 

Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri, feels that Ruturaj Gaikwad will be chosen over Ishan Kishan as the opening partner of KL Rahul. However, Shastri said that Kishan could bat at number three followed by Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya. 

"I think they will go with the guys they will want to see first - the Rahuls, the Ruturaj Gaikwads - maybe they will open. They will probably give Ishan (Kishan) a break in this game or bat him at three. If you bat him (Ishan) at three, then it will be Shreyas (Iyer) at No. 4, (Rishabh) Pant at No. 5, and Hardik (Pandya) at No. 6," he added," Shastri told Star Sports. 

Shastri further added that Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the bowling attack along with Harshal Patel. 

"I think if Bhuvi plays, then Umran is better because Bhuvi can do a job for you at the death. But then again you are looking for someone at the death, they are looking to develop that bowler. So if Harshal is going to do that, he plays that game," Shastri added.

Ravi Shastri's playing XI for the 1st T20I vs South Africa: KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh/Umran Malik, Harshal Patel

No Dinesh Karthik In Playing XI

Karthik had a stellar IPL 2022 where he smacked 330 runs at a strike rate of over 183 runs in 16 innings while finishing the inning. His finishing skills were widely praised and Karthik immediately made a comeback to the squad after getting dropped post 2019 World Cup. 

On Karthik, Shastri said his experience will be extremely vital for India in the T20 World Cup. 

"This is his opportunity. If and when he gets an opportunity in these games, he has to do it with India colors on. We know he has got the experience, so this becomes extremely vital," said Shastri.

"You have to see from the team's point of view, what are they looking for? Do they want a keeper who will bat at the top of the order or do they want a keeper who will be the finisher? I will go for the latter. You need a keeper who will do MS Dhoni's role, let's put it that way." 

"There is already Rishabh Pant who can bat in the top four or five in T20 cricket but you want someone who can keep and finish a game because they aren't too many finishers now with MS (Dhoni) having quit. So I think that's where his chances are very very good," he said.