India vs South Africa: Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik role for comeback series disclosed

The Indian cricket team will have some exciting names in their arsenal for the home T20I series against South Africa, starting on June 9. Young fast bowling talents like Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh will be a part of the squad while veterans like Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik are making a comeback to the national team set-up at the back of their impressive performances in the IPL 2022. 

All-rounder Pandya, who was out of the Team India set-up due to lower-back injury which affected his bowling prowess, will make a comeback to the side for the first time since 2021. He has been impressive with the bat and ball for Gujarat Titans as he scored 487 runs and scalped eight wickets besides leading the debutant side to IPL triumph. 

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid believes that whether Pandya can be a part of the leadership group or not; will rely on his consistency throughout the calendar year. He, however, mentioned that the Baroda cricketer will add a lot of depth to the team line-up. 

“I just met Hardik couple of hours ago. I think his leadership was impressive right through the IPL, he performed well. But I mean you don’t need to be designated a leader to be part of any leadership group, Yeah, in terms of what happens ahead, whether someone leads the team or not, it depends on many factors. The selectors will take the decision based on what they see and what happens in the future, availability of players. It is great we have got a lot of Indian captains doing well in the IPL,” Dravid said in the press conference. 

“Hardik was one of them, Rahul did very well for LSG, Sanju captained RR. Shreyas did it at KKR as well. It helps people grow and develop as players. It really helps you grow as a person also, having to make decisions. It is great from our perspective to see that. At this point of time, it is really about from our perspective is that he has started bowling again. You know what that does to us, what depth it brings to the side. So for us really, it would be about ensuring we get the best out of him as a cricketer, in terms of his bowling, in terms of his batting,” Dravid added. 

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India vs South Africa: ‘Dinesh Karthik comeback based on his skills’

Veteran India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik is another name in the pipeline who will make his comeback in the T20I series against South Africa. He has been out of the national team set-up for nearly three years and was named in the squad after scoring 330 runs for RCB this year in 16 matches at a strike rate of 183. Team India head coach Dravid has backed him to replicate his form from the lucrative tournament to the national team. 

“Dinesh… it’s pretty obvious… Very clear that he has made a comeback based on the skills that he has shown in a particular phase of the game. At that backend, Dinesh has really been able to show great consistency for the last 2-3 years. He has been able to make a difference in whichever team he has played, that’s why he has been picked, “He’s been picked to bat in that kind of position and see if he can replicate the same performances for India as well,” Dravid said.