Having completed a series whitewash over West Indies, India gear up for a long season at home, starting with three T20 Internationals and as many Tests against South Africa.
After the first match at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium was washed out, both sides will now head to the PCA Stadium in Mohali for the 2nd T20I on Wednesday (September 18), followed by the final game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on September 22.
Both teams will then move on to three matches as a part of the World Test Championship – the first being at Vishakhapatnam on October 2nd, Pune on October 10th and Ranchi the following Saturday to wrap up the tour.
Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer and opener Shikhar Dhawan are a part of the T20I squad while pacer Ishant Sharma and middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari will play crucial roles in the Test series. The selectors have entrusted Rishabh Pant as being the first pick wicketkeeper for the entire tourney.
Here’s a look at how Delhi Capitals’ players featuring in the coming series:
Cementing His Spot
Post the ICC World Cup 2019, the selectors have made it clear that Pant is going to play all three formats and will be groomed for the long run. Since making his international debut back in 2017, the talented southpaw has cemented his spot in the international side over the last two years.
While he is yet to showcase his prowess in limited overs cricket, Pant has had a watershed year in the longest format in 2018. His fighting 114 at the Oval and a stroke-filled unbeaten 159 at the Sydney Cricket Ground made his the only Indian wicketkeeper to score more than one century in away Tests.
Pant also proved his doubters wrong by scoring a match-winning 65 at Providence in the final T20I in a tricky chase. he 21-year-old will be extra focussed on leaving his mark against the Proteas over the next month.
Vihari, Iyer Offer Middle Order Solutions
Our skipper Shreyas provided a glimpse of what he could bring to the Indian middle-order during the West Indies tour. His 71 off 68 balls in the second ODI allowed India to post an above-par 279 for 7 and his blistering 65 off just 41 balls, inclusive three fours and five sixes, helped the visitors seal a comfortable six-wicket win in a rain hit encounter. Both performances further his cause of being India’s long-term solution for the middle-order in the limited formats.
Subsequently, Vihari has been the standout batsman in Tests this year and his impressive showing in the Caribbean furthered his cause of being a mainstay in India’s middle order. The 25-year-old managed 289 runs at an exceptional average of 96.33 in the two Tests against West Indies, inclusive of two half-centuries and his maiden Test century – 111 in the second Test.
While the Andhra Pradesh batsman had shown promise during his first four appearances – one against England and three in Australia, he now has numbers to back has potential through his knocks in the Caribbean. With the South Africa being Tests set to be his first series at home, Vihari will be keen to solidify his spot in the middle order.
Ishant’s Redemption
Ishant Sharma’s form over the last 18 months has resulted in selectors picking him as one of two fast bowlers in the Test series against South Africa. The 31-year-old recently surpassed Kapil Dev to become the most successful fast bowler for India outside Asia, picking up his 156th wicket outside the subcontinent in the second Test against West Indies.
While Jasprit Bumrah has grabbed the headlines with his outstanding performances, a closer look at the numbers show that the Delhi pacer has been equally important in the bowling unit. While Bumrah has picked up 62 scalps in 12 matches at an average of 19.24, the DC seamer has picked up 52 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 19.78 and the differential between the strike-rates is just 0.5.
With both being amongst the wickets in West Indies, the Proteas will have their hands full trying to overcome the duo in the upcoming series.
Dhawan on Comeback Course
Virat Kohli’s side were knocked out just one step away from the final of the ICC World Cup 2019, and the team sorely missed the presence of Shikhar Dhawan in the top order. The opener was ruled out of the competition after suffering a thumb injury during his valiant century against Australia in the group stages, resulting in the Men in Blue losing one of their key figures in recent 50-over success. His established pedigree in ICC competitions and his ability to make his starts count left a gaping hole in the top order, which they never recovered from. Gabbar returned post recovery but couldn’t produce his best during the five innings during the T20I and ODI series against West Indies – which will fuel the southpaw to score big against the Proteas.
Rabada Eyes 2015 Encore
While the hosts are strong favourites in both series, one player that could even the odds is the Capitals pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada. The 24-year-old is being the fourth-highest wicket-taker amongst fast bowlers this year in all formats, 44 at an average of 28.65. This will be South Africa’s first assignment post the World Cup, and the pacer will be eager to produce an encore of his performance during the previous tour of India, which saw him take 11 wickets combined in the ODI and T20I series, leading Proteas to series glory in both formats.
With the T20 World Cup next year, India will be trying to find the right combination to be successful in the format and further their lead in the World Test Championship table by taking maximum points in the Test series.
Having completed a series whitewash over West Indies, India gear up for a long season at home, starting with three T20 Internationals and as many Tests against South Africa.
After the first match at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium was washed out, both sides will now head to the PCA Stadium in Mohali for the 2nd T20I on Wednesday (September 18), followed by the final game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on September 22.
Both teams will then move on to three matches as a part of the World Test Championship – the first being at Vishakhapatnam on October 2nd, Pune on October 10th and Ranchi the following Saturday to wrap up the tour.
Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer and opener Shikhar Dhawan are a part of the T20I squad while pacer Ishant Sharma and middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari will play crucial roles in the Test series. The selectors have entrusted Rishabh Pant as being the first pick wicketkeeper for the entire tourney.
Here’s a look at how Delhi Capitals’ players featuring in the coming series:
Cementing His Spot
Post the ICC World Cup 2019, the selectors have made it clear that Pant is going to play all three formats and will be groomed for the long run. Since making his international debut back in 2017, the talented southpaw has cemented his spot in the international side over the last two years.
While he is yet to showcase his prowess in limited overs cricket, Pant has had a watershed year in the longest format in 2018. His fighting 114 at the Oval and a stroke-filled unbeaten 159 at the Sydney Cricket Ground made his the only Indian wicketkeeper to score more than one century in away Tests.
Pant also proved his doubters wrong by scoring a match-winning 65 at Providence in the final T20I in a tricky chase. he 21-year-old will be extra focussed on leaving his mark against the Proteas over the next month.
Vihari, Iyer Offer Middle Order Solutions
Our skipper Shreyas provided a glimpse of what he could bring to the Indian middle-order during the West Indies tour. His 71 off 68 balls in the second ODI allowed India to post an above-par 279 for 7 and his blistering 65 off just 41 balls, inclusive three fours and five sixes, helped the visitors seal a comfortable six-wicket win in a rain hit encounter. Both performances further his cause of being India’s long-term solution for the middle-order in the limited formats.
Subsequently, Vihari has been the standout batsman in Tests this year and his impressive showing in the Caribbean furthered his cause of being a mainstay in India’s middle order. The 25-year-old managed 289 runs at an exceptional average of 96.33 in the two Tests against West Indies, inclusive of two half-centuries and his maiden Test century – 111 in the second Test.
While the Andhra Pradesh batsman had shown promise during his first four appearances – one against England and three in Australia, he now has numbers to back has potential through his knocks in the Caribbean. With the South Africa being Tests set to be his first series at home, Vihari will be keen to solidify his spot in the middle order.
Ishant’s Redemption
Ishant Sharma’s form over the last 18 months has resulted in selectors picking him as one of two fast bowlers in the Test series against South Africa. The 31-year-old recently surpassed Kapil Dev to become the most successful fast bowler for India outside Asia, picking up his 156th wicket outside the subcontinent in the second Test against West Indies.
While Jasprit Bumrah has grabbed the headlines with his outstanding performances, a closer look at the numbers show that the Delhi pacer has been equally important in the bowling unit. While Bumrah has picked up 62 scalps in 12 matches at an average of 19.24, the DC seamer has picked up 52 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 19.78 and the differential between the strike-rates is just 0.5.
With both being amongst the wickets in West Indies, the Proteas will have their hands full trying to overcome the duo in the upcoming series.
Dhawan on Comeback Course
Virat Kohli’s side were knocked out just one step away from the final of the ICC World Cup 2019, and the team sorely missed the presence of Shikhar Dhawan in the top order. The opener was ruled out of the competition after suffering a thumb injury during his valiant century against Australia in the group stages, resulting in the Men in Blue losing one of their key figures in recent 50-over success. His established pedigree in ICC competitions and his ability to make his starts count left a gaping hole in the top order, which they never recovered from. Gabbar returned post recovery but couldn’t produce his best during the five innings during the T20I and ODI series against West Indies – which will fuel the southpaw to score big against the Proteas.
Rabada Eyes 2015 Encore
While the hosts are strong favourites in both series, one player that could even the odds is the Capitals pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada. The 24-year-old is being the fourth-highest wicket-taker amongst fast bowlers this year in all formats, 44 at an average of 28.65. This will be South Africa’s first assignment post the World Cup, and the pacer will be eager to produce an encore of his performance during the previous tour of India, which saw him take 11 wickets combined in the ODI and T20I series, leading Proteas to series glory in both formats.
With the T20 World Cup next year, India will be trying to find the right combination to be successful in the format and further their lead in the World Test Championship table by taking maximum points in the Test series.
