India return to international cricket with a five-match T20I series against South Africa after the conclusion of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The team will be without captain Rohit Sharma and star players like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, who have all been rested ahead of the postponed fifth Test against England which will be played next month.
It means that KL Rahul will take the reins in this series. Rahul has captained India in three ODIs and one Test match but this will be the first time he will be leading India in a T20I. Former batter Suresh Raina feels that Rahul has shown his quality as a captain this season in the IPL and how he performs at the helm will be one of many things to watch out for during the series.
“It is extremely important because you will get to see all the players who performed in the IPL. But how they perform for India will matter. The mindset is important if you have to play for India,” Raina said on Star Sports.
“When the matches happen, it will be extremely hot, the matches will be played in June. There are a lot of things to look for. Umran Malik, who is a talented bowler, Arshdeep, the way he has bowled, and KL Rahul as a captain. He has impressed a lot but it is now the turn of the Indian team, I feel he will do very well.”
The series will start with a match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on June 9.
