India’s stand-in captain Rishabh Pant has revealed there will be a lot of changes in the way they play cricket. With T20 World Cup on the team’s top agenda, the Men in Blue will begin their hunt for a perfect playing XI in the series against South Africa.
Indian selectors had named an 18-man squad for the series against the Proteas but KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav were ruled out due to their respective injuries on Wednesday. The selection committee hasn’t yet named any replacements and it is now a 16-man squad.
Meanwhile, a lot of young players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, and Arshdeep Singh have impressed in the last couple of seasons of the IPL and they have been named in the series against South Africa. The young players are expected to get their opportunities in the absence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Rishabh Pant said on the eve of the opening game in the press conference, “As a team, we have thought about certain goals, which we want to achieve. We are continuously working on them. At the end, we are thinking of the World Cup at the back of our head, so we are preparing for that. In the coming days, you will see that there will be a lot of changes in the way we play cricket.”
On the other hand, Pant was named as captain after KL Rahul was ruled out with a right groin injury. Pant will lead India for the first time in his young career and he was happy to be appointed as the leader.
“It is a very good feeling, (it) did not come under very good circumstances but at the same time, I am feeling happy. It is a great feeling, especially getting an opportunity to lead in your hometown. I will try to make the most of it.”
The left-hander has the experience of leading the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and said he will try to use his experience.
“I think as a captain, it will help me a lot because when you are doing the same thing again and again, you improve. I am someone who keeps learning from his mistakes and I think it will help me in the coming days.”
The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Thursday.
