The IPL 2022 edition ended on May 29 (Sunday). There were plenty of memorable performances by uncapped players, veteran stars whereas some big names failed to get going and fell flat. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Kieron Pollard, Glenn Maxwell and many other superstar cricketers failed to live upto expectations and had an ordinary run.

Thus, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra picked Team India's T20 World Cup squad, for the mega event set to be held in Australia later this year, on the basis of Indian players' IPL 2022 performance. While Chopra named Hardik Pandya -- IPL 15's winning captain -- as India's skipper, he dropped Virat, Rohit, Rishabh Pant and Jadeja.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-a-special-player-but-kohli-and-rohit-belong-in-a-different-league-says-former-pakistan-captain-484006">KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain</a>

"The first name I am keeping is KL Rahul. He can play till 15-17 overs, he is a T20 gun batter and scored more than 600 runs this year. I have kept Ishan Kishan along with him. If you see his numbers, you will say it was not that bad a season for Ishan Kishan."

"At No. 3, I have kept Rahul Tripathi. He played very well this, strike rate has been very high and given match-winning performances. At No. 4, I have kept SKY. He has not played all the games but he has played at a different level in the matches he played," Chopra said on his Youtube channel.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-captains-aakash-chopras-ipl-2022-xi-no-place-for-dk-rashid-khan-and-umran-malik-483865">Hardik Pandya captains Aakash Chopra's IPL 2022 XI, no place for DK, Rashid Khan and Umran Malik</a>

He added, "After that, my Player of the Tournament. I have made Hardik Pandya the captain of the team. He can play in the middle and be a finisher as well. After that, I have given a spot to Dinesh Karthik and he is my wicketkeeper as well. He has run at a strike rate of 180-190 and finished a lot of matches."

"At No. 7, I have kept Krunal Pandya because he has had a very good season. He has been very economical as a bowler and scored crucial runs as a batter. He can bat up and down the order. You require a left-hander in the middle."

"After that, Yuzi Chahal has to be in my side. Then I have three fast bowlers and the fourth fast bowler is Hardik Pandya - Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh. I am seeing this as the XI," Chopra opined further.

India's T20 World Cup squad based on IPL 2022 performances: KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah

The IPL 2022 edition ended on May 29 (Sunday). There were plenty of memorable performances by uncapped players, veteran stars whereas some big names failed to get going and fell flat.

The IPL 2022 edition ended on May 29 (Sunday). There were plenty of memorable performances by uncapped players, veteran stars whereas some big names failed to get going and fell flat. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Kieron Pollard, Glenn Maxwell and many other superstar cricketers failed to live upto expectations and had an ordinary run. Thus, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra picked Team India's T20 World Cup squad, for the mega event set to be held in Australia later this year, on the basis of Indian players' IPL 2022 performance. While Chopra named Hardik Pandya -- IPL 15's winning captain -- as India's skipper, he dropped Virat, Rohit, Rishabh Pant and Jadeja. ALSO READ | KL Rahul a special player but Kohli and Rohit belong in a different league, says former Pakistan captain "The first name I am keeping is KL Rahul. He can play till 15-17 overs, he is a T20 gun batter and scored more than 600 runs this year. I have kept Ishan Kishan along with him. If you see his numbers, you will say it was not that bad a season for Ishan Kishan." "At No. 3, I have kept Rahul Tripathi. He played very well this, strike rate has been very high and given match-winning performances. At No. 4, I have kept SKY. He has not played all the games but he has played at a different level in the matches he played," Chopra said on his Youtube channel. ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya captains Aakash Chopra's IPL 2022 XI, no place for DK, Rashid Khan and Umran Malik He added, "After that, my Player of the Tournament. I have made Hardik Pandya the captain of the team. He can play in the middle and be a finisher as well. After that, I have given a spot to Dinesh Karthik and he is my wicketkeeper as well. He has run at a strike rate of 180-190 and finished a lot of matches." "At No. 7, I have kept Krunal Pandya because he has had a very good season. He has been very economical as a bowler and scored crucial runs as a batter. He can bat up and down the order. You require a left-hander in the middle." "After that, Yuzi Chahal has to be in my side. Then I have three fast bowlers and the fourth fast bowler is Hardik Pandya - Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh. I am seeing this as the XI," Chopra opined further. India's T20 World Cup squad based on IPL 2022 performances: KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah

Hardik to lead India in Aakash Chopra's T20 WC squad based on IPL 2022, Virat, Rohit & some big names dropped

The IPL 2022 edition concluded on May 29 with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their debut season. It was a highly-successful tournament where many uncapped Indian players made a mark whereas some veteran batters, pacers and spinners also shined for their respective franchises.

Among the veteran Indian players, the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav were successful for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), respectively. While DK amassed 330 runs at 183.33, Umesh returned with 16 scalps for the two-time champions. Thus, former Indian off-spinner -- who was mighty impressed with the Indian speedsters -- lavished huge praise on Umesh for a fantastic run in IPL 15.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-roundup-from-ms-dhonis-confirmation-to-gujarat-titans-historic-triumph-483837">IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph</a>

"Umesh Yadav has made a splendid comeback. Some players really benefit from being in the right team and with Umesh, it's like he enjoyed playing for KKR. This team gave him that confidence. This was the Umesh Yadav we knew of. He was swinging the ball at 145 kph just like the old days," Harbhajan said on SportsKeeda.

Bhajji further pointed out, "I am very impressed with the crop of Indian fast bowlers that are coming up through the ranks. Talk of Umran, Prasidh, Mohsin and so many more. They are all so good. Earlier, it was never like this. We used to have a stock of spinners and now there are so many fast bowlers which is a great thing, something we never witnessed before. In the past, we saw Australia, England, Pakistan produce so many fast bowlers and now it’s India's turn."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/hardik-pandya-to-david-miller-5-heroes-of-gujarat-titans-memorable-maiden-ipl-triumph-483565">Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph</a>

Not just Umesh, the likes of young pacers Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik, Avesh and Mohsin Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, etc. also made a huge impression in the recently-concluded 15th season of the IPL.&nbsp;

The IPL 2022 edition concluded on May 29 with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their debut season. It was a highly-successful tournament where many uncapped Indian players made a mark whereas some veteran batters, pacers and spinners also shined for their respective franchises.

The IPL 2022 edition concluded on May 29 with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden title in their debut season. It was a highly-successful tournament where many uncapped Indian players made a mark whereas some veteran batters, pacers and spinners also shined for their respective franchises. Among the veteran Indian players, the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Umesh Yadav were successful for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), respectively. While DK amassed 330 runs at 183.33, Umesh returned with 16 scalps for the two-time champions. Thus, former Indian off-spinner -- who was mighty impressed with the Indian speedsters -- lavished huge praise on Umesh for a fantastic run in IPL 15. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 roundup: From MS Dhoni's confirmation to Gujarat Titans' historic triumph "Umesh Yadav has made a splendid comeback. Some players really benefit from being in the right team and with Umesh, it's like he enjoyed playing for KKR. This team gave him that confidence. This was the Umesh Yadav we knew of. He was swinging the ball at 145 kph just like the old days," Harbhajan said on SportsKeeda. Bhajji further pointed out, "I am very impressed with the crop of Indian fast bowlers that are coming up through the ranks. Talk of Umran, Prasidh, Mohsin and so many more. They are all so good. Earlier, it was never like this. We used to have a stock of spinners and now there are so many fast bowlers which is a great thing, something we never witnessed before. In the past, we saw Australia, England, Pakistan produce so many fast bowlers and now it’s India's turn." ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya to David Miller: 5 heroes of Gujarat Titans' memorable maiden IPL triumph Not just Umesh, the likes of young pacers Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik, Avesh and Mohsin Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, etc. also made a huge impression in the recently-concluded 15th season of the IPL.

'He was swinging the ball at 145 kph' - Harbhajan lauds India's pacer after his splendid run in IPL 2022

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to their third straight playoffs in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, they failed to go the distance once again as their wait for their maiden IPL title got extended. While it was a great season for the franchise under new skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB superstar Virat Kohli had a forgetful campaign. Kohli struggled for consistency throughout the season and failed to fire with the bat.

A lot was expected from Kohli in IPL 2022 after he gave up captaincy last year and was playing only as a batter this season. He was expected to bat freely and pile on runs for his team but that was not the case as Kohli struggled to score runs against almost every team in the competition.&nbsp;

The batting maestro managed only 341 runs in 16 matches at a poor average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.99. It was an abysmal season for the former RCB skipper, who was also dismissed on ducks thrice and was trolled heavily by a section of fans for his dismal show.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-in-sachin-tendulkars-best-xi-from-ipl-2022-hardik-pandya-named-captain-483728">No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in Sachin Tendulkar's best XI from IPL 2022; Hardik Pandya named captain</a>

However, Kohli has found support from the legendary Shoaib Akhtar after enduring a difficult season for RCB. The former Pakistan pacer has hit out at the critics of the RCB star and said he deserves respect for what he has done in international cricket and IPL. Kohli is the leading run-getter of all time in IPL history and has been one of India's best batters for several years now.

Akhtar called Kohli the greatest of all time and said as a Pakistani, he wishes to see the Indian batter play till the age of 45 and score as many as 10 international centuries. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring 100 centuries in international cricket and no batter has managed to come close to the feat. Kohli is the only active batter who can break Tendulkar's record as he has 70 hundreds to his name in international cricket at present.

“Before passing statements, people should understand that small kids look up to them. Say good things about Virat Kohli. Give him the respect he deserves. As a Pakistani, I am saying that he is the greatest player of all time. I want him to score 110 centuries in international cricket. I want him to play till the age of 45,” Akhtar said on Sportskeeda.

“This tough situation is preparing you for 110 centuries. People are writing you off, tweeting against you. If you tweet about Diwali, you are criticised. People tweet about your wife and kid. When you lose the World Cup, you are heavily criticised. Things cannot get any worse. Just go out there, and show everyone who Virat Kohli is,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mumbai-indians-fans-will-be-feeling-the-pain-ajay-jadeja-on-hardik-pandya-inspiring-gt-to-maiden-ipl-title-483780">Mumbai Indians fans will be feeling the pain: Ajay Jadeja on Hardik Pandya inspiring GT to maiden IPL title</a>

Kohli has been rested from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home along with several other senior players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. He will be next seen in action when India travel to England for a one-off Test next month. Kohli will be hopeful of sparking a turnaround and scoring big in the Test match against England. 
&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to their third straight playoffs in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, they failed to go the distance once again as their wait for their maiden IPL title got extended.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it to their third straight playoffs in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, they failed to go the distance once again as their wait for their maiden IPL title got extended. While it was a great season for the franchise under new skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB superstar Virat Kohli had a forgetful campaign. Kohli struggled for consistency throughout the season and failed to fire with the bat. A lot was expected from Kohli in IPL 2022 after he gave up captaincy last year and was playing only as a batter this season. He was expected to bat freely and pile on runs for his team but that was not the case as Kohli struggled to score runs against almost every team in the competition. The batting maestro managed only 341 runs in 16 matches at a poor average of 22.73 and a below-par strike rate of 115.99. It was an abysmal season for the former RCB skipper, who was also dismissed on ducks thrice and was trolled heavily by a section of fans for his dismal show. Also Read: No Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in Sachin Tendulkar's best XI from IPL 2022; Hardik Pandya named captain However, Kohli has found support from the legendary Shoaib Akhtar after enduring a difficult season for RCB. The former Pakistan pacer has hit out at the critics of the RCB star and said he deserves respect for what he has done in international cricket and IPL. Kohli is the leading run-getter of all time in IPL history and has been one of India's best batters for several years now. Akhtar called Kohli the greatest of all time and said as a Pakistani, he wishes to see the Indian batter play till the age of 45 and score as many as 10 international centuries. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring 100 centuries in international cricket and no batter has managed to come close to the feat. Kohli is the only active batter who can break Tendulkar's record as he has 70 hundreds to his name in international cricket at present. “Before passing statements, people should understand that small kids look up to them. Say good things about Virat Kohli. Give him the respect he deserves. As a Pakistani, I am saying that he is the greatest player of all time. I want him to score 110 centuries in international cricket. I want him to play till the age of 45,” Akhtar said on Sportskeeda. “This tough situation is preparing you for 110 centuries. People are writing you off, tweeting against you. If you tweet about Diwali, you are criticised. People tweet about your wife and kid. When you lose the World Cup, you are heavily criticised. Things cannot get any worse. Just go out there, and show everyone who Virat Kohli is,” he added. Also Read: Mumbai Indians fans will be feeling the pain: Ajay Jadeja on Hardik Pandya inspiring GT to maiden IPL title Kohli has been rested from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home along with several other senior players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. He will be next seen in action when India travel to England for a one-off Test next month. Kohli will be hopeful of sparking a turnaround and scoring big in the Test match against England.

Shoaib Akhtar slams Virat Kohli's critics: 'Give him the respect he deserves, he is the greatest of all time'

Hardik Pandya has been the talk of the town ever since he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the IPL 2022 final. Beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the summit clash, on Sunday evening (May 29) at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat franchise have won hearts whereas Hardik's all-round abilities and leadership qualities have been hailed by many.

Now, Hardik is set for a return in Team India jersey as the white-ball side is set to host Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in a five-match T20I series, starting on June 09 in New Delhi. For the unversed, the series will mark the 28-year-old Hardik's return as he last played for the national side during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Ahead of his return, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik, post IPL 2022 final, and suggested his batting slot for Team India for the SA T20Is.

Speaking to&nbsp;Star Sports, batting legend said,&nbsp;"I think he'll probably be slotted at five or six. Just imagine, if India has a Hardik Pandya and a Rishabh Pant at five or six. They can probably swap around a little bit -- that is going to be some explosive combination from the 14th to the 20th over. In six overs, you can probably expect even maybe 100-120 runs. They are capable of doing that. So, that's going to be an exciting aspect. That's something I'm really looking forward to -- Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya batting at five or six."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-south-africa-t20i-series-kl-rahul-led-india-set-to-reach-delhi-on-june-5-3-days-after-visitors-483771">India vs South Africa, T20I series: KL Rahul-led India set to reach Delhi on June 5; 3 days after visitors</a>

Hardik will be eager to make a mark in his return to India's white-ball side. With the 2022 T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, in Australia, the IPL-winning captain will be desperate to be right on the money in blue jersey and continue to make heads turn.

India squad for SA T20Is:&nbsp;KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

Hardik Pandya has been the talk of the town ever since he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the IPL 2022 final. Beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the summit clash, on Sunday evening (May 29) at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat franchise have won hearts whereas Hardik's all-round abilities and leadership qualities have been hailed by many.

Hardik Pandya has been the talk of the town ever since he led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title in the IPL 2022 final. Beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the summit clash, on Sunday evening (May 29) at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat franchise have won hearts whereas Hardik's all-round abilities and leadership qualities have been hailed by many. Now, Hardik is set for a return in Team India jersey as the white-ball side is set to host Temba Bavuma-led South Africa in a five-match T20I series, starting on June 09 in New Delhi. For the unversed, the series will mark the 28-year-old Hardik's return as he last played for the national side during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Ahead of his return, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik, post IPL 2022 final, and suggested his batting slot for Team India for the SA T20Is. Speaking to Star Sports, batting legend said, "I think he'll probably be slotted at five or six. Just imagine, if India has a Hardik Pandya and a Rishabh Pant at five or six. They can probably swap around a little bit -- that is going to be some explosive combination from the 14th to the 20th over. In six overs, you can probably expect even maybe 100-120 runs. They are capable of doing that. So, that's going to be an exciting aspect. That's something I'm really looking forward to -- Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya batting at five or six." ALSO READ | India vs South Africa, T20I series: KL Rahul-led India set to reach Delhi on June 5; 3 days after visitors Hardik will be eager to make a mark in his return to India's white-ball side. With the 2022 T20 World Cup scheduled to be held later this year, in Australia, the IPL-winning captain will be desperate to be right on the money in blue jersey and continue to make heads turn. India squad for SA T20Is: KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain, wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

India vs SA T20Is: Sunil Gavaskar suggests best batting slot for Hardik Pandya ahead of series vs Proteas

Hardik Pandya has been garnering praise from all corners for his excellent captaincy in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title triumph in their debut campaign. Hardik was roped in by GT ahead of the start of IPL 2022 after being released by his former side Mumbai Indians. The star all-rounder was also appointed as the captain of his side and the moves turned out to be a masterstroke as Hardik inspired his team to their first title in his first season as captain.

Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the final of IPL 2022 on Sunday (May 29) to clinch the elusive trophy and cap off a fairytale run this season. Gujarat Titans were one of the most consistent teams throughout the league stage and were the first to reach the playoffs. They came up against Rajasthan Royals twice in the knockout stage and defeated them on both occasions to be crowned champions.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik's captaincy as he spoke about his rise as captain in IPL 2022. Not many had expected the all-rounder to lead his team to their maiden title in their very first season, however, GT managed to pull off some miraculous wins under Hardik to go all the way in the tournament.

“Yes definitely. Not just my estimation, but everybody’s estimation (Hardik’s reputation as a leader has gone up). This was an aspect of his game which nobody had too much information about," Gavaskar said on Star Sports following GT's win over RR in the IPL 2022 final.

“We all knew what he could do with the bat, what he could do with the ball, but there was just a little bit of a concern before the start of the season about whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs. He has done that, he has shown that. That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy. But this now, the way he has led the team, the way he has got them together, the way he has got them to gel together means he has got leadership qualities," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/count-myself-lucky-winning-5-finals-hardik-pandya-after-inspiring-gujarat-titans-to-their-maiden-ipl-title-483395">'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title</a>

Gavaskar also threw his weight behind Hardik as a potential contender to become India's next captain in the future. Currently, Rohit Sharma is in charge of the Indian team across formats and several players are being groomed to take up the role in the future. Gavaskar believes the leadership qualities shown by Hardik in IPL 2022 have opened the doors for him to be able to captain the Indian team one day.

“When you have leadership qualities, it automatically opens the door for honours at the national level to be able to captain the Indian national team in the near future. So that’s exciting, there are 3-4 other names in the ring. I am not saying he is the next in line. But for the selection committee to have that option is fantastic,” Gavaskar explained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/complete-list-of-award-winners-from-ipl-2022-orange-cap-purple-cap-to-emerging-player-of-the-year-483407">Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap, Purple Cap to Emerging Player of the Year</a>

There were concerns over Hardik's bowling ahead of the start of the season as the all-rounder was making a comeback after a long break and had not bowled too much in the IPL or international cricket over the last couple of years. While he didn't bowl regularly, the GT skipper stepped up with the ball when his team needed him.

In the final against RR, he was the pick of the bowlers for GT with a three-wicket haul while conceding only 17 runs off his four overs. Hardik finished the season with 487 runs and 8 wickets in 15 matches for the Titans to help them win their maiden title in debut season.

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Hardik Pandya has been garnering praise from all corners for his excellent captaincy in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title triumph in their debut campaign.

Hardik Pandya has been garnering praise from all corners for his excellent captaincy in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after leading Gujarat Titans (GT) to their maiden title triumph in their debut campaign. Hardik was roped in by GT ahead of the start of IPL 2022 after being released by his former side Mumbai Indians. The star all-rounder was also appointed as the captain of his side and the moves turned out to be a masterstroke as Hardik inspired his team to their first title in his first season as captain. Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the final of IPL 2022 on Sunday (May 29) to clinch the elusive trophy and cap off a fairytale run this season. Gujarat Titans were one of the most consistent teams throughout the league stage and were the first to reach the playoffs. They came up against Rajasthan Royals twice in the knockout stage and defeated them on both occasions to be crowned champions. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik's captaincy as he spoke about his rise as captain in IPL 2022. Not many had expected the all-rounder to lead his team to their maiden title in their very first season, however, GT managed to pull off some miraculous wins under Hardik to go all the way in the tournament. “Yes definitely. Not just my estimation, but everybody’s estimation (Hardik’s reputation as a leader has gone up). This was an aspect of his game which nobody had too much information about," Gavaskar said on Star Sports following GT's win over RR in the IPL 2022 final. “We all knew what he could do with the bat, what he could do with the ball, but there was just a little bit of a concern before the start of the season about whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs. He has done that, he has shown that. That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy. But this now, the way he has led the team, the way he has got them together, the way he has got them to gel together means he has got leadership qualities," he added. Also Read: 'Count myself lucky winning 5 finals': Hardik Pandya after inspiring Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title Gavaskar also threw his weight behind Hardik as a potential contender to become India's next captain in the future. Currently, Rohit Sharma is in charge of the Indian team across formats and several players are being groomed to take up the role in the future. Gavaskar believes the leadership qualities shown by Hardik in IPL 2022 have opened the doors for him to be able to captain the Indian team one day. “When you have leadership qualities, it automatically opens the door for honours at the national level to be able to captain the Indian national team in the near future. So that’s exciting, there are 3-4 other names in the ring. I am not saying he is the next in line. But for the selection committee to have that option is fantastic,” Gavaskar explained. Also Read: Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022: Orange Cap, Purple Cap to Emerging Player of the Year There were concerns over Hardik's bowling ahead of the start of the season as the all-rounder was making a comeback after a long break and had not bowled too much in the IPL or international cricket over the last couple of years. While he didn't bowl regularly, the GT skipper stepped up with the ball when his team needed him. In the final against RR, he was the pick of the bowlers for GT with a three-wicket haul while conceding only 17 runs off his four overs. Hardik finished the season with 487 runs and 8 wickets in 15 matches for the Titans to help them win their maiden title in debut season. ×

Hardik Pandya for India captaincy? Sunil Gavaskar throws weight behind GT skipper after IPL 2022 triumph

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Hardik Pandya for his terrific leadership in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Hardik has led his team Gujarat Titans (GT) into the final of the tournament in their debut campaign this season. The Titans made it to the summit clash after playing some brilliant cricket in the group stage and the playoffs and will be hoping to cap off a fairytale run with their maiden IPL trophy.

Hardik has been instrumental both as a leader and as an all-rounder in his franchise's dream run in IPL 2022. The star all-rounder was roped in by Gujarat Titans ahead of the ongoing season after being released by Mumbai Indians (MI). He was also appointed as the captain of the side and has been one of the stand-out leaders in this edition.

Gujarat Titans were the first team to qualify for the playoffs after reaching 18 points this season and the debutants also finished as the table toppers with a total of 20 points from the league stage. They went on to beat Rajasthan Royals in the 1st Qualifier to secure a spot in the final and will now be gunning for the trophy in the final.

Ahead of the final, Akhtar lauded Hardik and made a bold statement claiming that the star all-rounder can be an ideal replacement for Rohit Sharma as India's next captain in the future. Rohit recently took over from Virat Kohli as India's captain across all three formats.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gujarat-titans-vs-rajasthan-royals-ipl-2022-final-shoaib-akhtar-matthew-hayden-pick-their-potential-winners-483226">IPL 2022 final: Shoaib Akhtar, Matthew Hayden pick their potential winners</a>

However, the Hitman is 35 at present and his workload needs to be managed better in order to ensure he can continue playing at the highest level for longer. India will also look to groom new leaders under Rohit with the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah among&nbsp;great contenders to be the team's captain going forward.

However, Akhtar has backed Hardik to take over as India's captain and said the GT skipper is already knocking at the door for India captaincy with his rise as a leader in IPL 2022.&nbsp;“It is the fact that Hardik Pandya is leaving a mark. He is knocking on the door of Indian captaincy. One is not sure how long Rohit Sharma will continue as captain,” Akhtar said on&nbsp;Sportskeeda.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-rajasthan-royals-break-the-jinx-why-gujarat-titans-are-favourites-to-win-ipl-2022-title-483218">Can Rajasthan Royals break the jinx? Why Gujarat Titans are favourites to win IPL 2022 title</a>

However, Akhtar also insisted that Hardik should focus on his fitness and ensure he can contribute both with the bat and the ball for the Indian team going forward. Hardik will make his comeback for the Men in Blue in the home T20I series against South Africa next month.

“It’s never easy to captain the Indian cricket team. Hardik has proved his point (as a leader) but he still needs to focus on his fitness and bowling. When he was fit as an all-rounder, he was an automatic choice in the Indian team. As a pure batter, though, there is no vacancy in the Indian team,” Akhtar added.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Hardik Pandya for his terrific leadership in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Hardik has led his team Gujarat Titans (GT) into the final of the tournament in their debut campaign this season.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Hardik Pandya for his terrific leadership in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Hardik has led his team Gujarat Titans (GT) into the final of the tournament in their debut campaign this season. The Titans made it to the summit clash after playing some brilliant cricket in the group stage and the playoffs and will be hoping to cap off a fairytale run with their maiden IPL trophy. Hardik has been instrumental both as a leader and as an all-rounder in his franchise's dream run in IPL 2022. The star all-rounder was roped in by Gujarat Titans ahead of the ongoing season after being released by Mumbai Indians (MI). He was also appointed as the captain of the side and has been one of the stand-out leaders in this edition. Gujarat Titans were the first team to qualify for the playoffs after reaching 18 points this season and the debutants also finished as the table toppers with a total of 20 points from the league stage. They went on to beat Rajasthan Royals in the 1st Qualifier to secure a spot in the final and will now be gunning for the trophy in the final. Ahead of the final, Akhtar lauded Hardik and made a bold statement claiming that the star all-rounder can be an ideal replacement for Rohit Sharma as India's next captain in the future. Rohit recently took over from Virat Kohli as India's captain across all three formats. Also Read: IPL 2022 final: Shoaib Akhtar, Matthew Hayden pick their potential winners However, the Hitman is 35 at present and his workload needs to be managed better in order to ensure he can continue playing at the highest level for longer. India will also look to groom new leaders under Rohit with the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah among great contenders to be the team's captain going forward. However, Akhtar has backed Hardik to take over as India's captain and said the GT skipper is already knocking at the door for India captaincy with his rise as a leader in IPL 2022. “It is the fact that Hardik Pandya is leaving a mark. He is knocking on the door of Indian captaincy. One is not sure how long Rohit Sharma will continue as captain,” Akhtar said on Sportskeeda. Also Read: Can Rajasthan Royals break the jinx? Why Gujarat Titans are favourites to win IPL 2022 title However, Akhtar also insisted that Hardik should focus on his fitness and ensure he can contribute both with the bat and the ball for the Indian team going forward. Hardik will make his comeback for the Men in Blue in the home T20I series against South Africa next month. “It’s never easy to captain the Indian cricket team. Hardik has proved his point (as a leader) but he still needs to focus on his fitness and bowling. When he was fit as an all-rounder, he was an automatic choice in the Indian team. As a pure batter, though, there is no vacancy in the Indian team,” Akhtar added.

Hardik to replace Rohit? Shoaib Akhtar feels GT skipper is knocking on the door for India captaincy

The BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India T20I squad for the forthcoming five-match series versus South Africa at home. In the KL Rahul-led Indian team, many regulars such as all-format skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested whereas some seniors have missed out while other key players such as Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are injured.

Shikhar Dhawan was one notable omission in the young squad. While the senior player has been out of the T20I side since being dropped from the squad for the last year's World Cup, many thought a comeback was on the cards for him after amassing 460 runs for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 14 league stage matches. Nonetheless, the selectors preferred youngsters in place of Dhawan as Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc. made the cut. As per a report in InsideSport, Dhawan was informed about his non-selection before the team was announced by head coach Rahul Dravid.

“Shikhar has been a great servant of Indian cricket for over a decade. But in T20s, you have to give chances to youngsters who have been doing well. Rahul had to make the tough call and we all agreed. Shikhar was informed by Rahul before the team was announced on Sunday,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport.

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandyas-stocks-go-up-as-captain-star-player-could-lead-team-india-in-ireland-t20is-report-482360">Hardik Pandya's captaincy stocks on the rise, star player could lead Team India in Ireland T20Is: Report</a>

After the SA home T20Is, India will play Ireland in two matches in the latter's own backyard. As KL Rahul will join the Rohit-led Indian Test squad at that time, for the one-off Test versus England on July 01, Dhawan might get a look-in for the Ireland series.&nbsp;

India have a lot of T20Is lined up in the run-up to the 2022 T20 World Cup. Thus, doors aren't completely shut for Dhawan but it looks like juniors will be preferred over him.
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The BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India T20I squad for the forthcoming five-match series versus South Africa at home. In the KL Rahul-led Indian team, many regulars such as all-format skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested whereas some seniors have missed out while other key players such as Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are injured.

The BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India T20I squad for the forthcoming five-match series versus South Africa at home. In the KL Rahul-led Indian team, many regulars such as all-format skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested whereas some seniors have missed out while other key players such as Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are injured. Shikhar Dhawan was one notable omission in the young squad. While the senior player has been out of the T20I side since being dropped from the squad for the last year's World Cup, many thought a comeback was on the cards for him after amassing 460 runs for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 14 league stage matches. Nonetheless, the selectors preferred youngsters in place of Dhawan as Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc. made the cut. As per a report in InsideSport, Dhawan was informed about his non-selection before the team was announced by head coach Rahul Dravid. “Shikhar has been a great servant of Indian cricket for over a decade. But in T20s, you have to give chances to youngsters who have been doing well. Rahul had to make the tough call and we all agreed. Shikhar was informed by Rahul before the team was announced on Sunday,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport. ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya's captaincy stocks on the rise, star player could lead Team India in Ireland T20Is: Report After the SA home T20Is, India will play Ireland in two matches in the latter's own backyard. As KL Rahul will join the Rohit-led Indian Test squad at that time, for the one-off Test versus England on July 01, Dhawan might get a look-in for the Ireland series. India have a lot of T20Is lined up in the run-up to the 2022 T20 World Cup. Thus, doors aren't completely shut for Dhawan but it looks like juniors will be preferred over him.

India vs SA T20Is: Shikhar Dhawan was informed about his omission by coach Rahul Dravid - Report

Rishabh Pant has now become a regular for Team India across formats. While Pant made his name with his IPL heroics and was being seen as the next-big-thing in white-ball formats, the 24-year-old has achieved more success in Test cricket so far at the international level.

In 30 Tests, Pant has 1,920 runs at an average of 40.85 and has scored hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa. Thus, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag -- who also defied odds by doing exceeding well in red-ball format when many deemed him to be fit for the shorter forms of the game -- has made a big statement on Pant.&nbsp;

Sehwag stressed the importance of Test cricket and claimed that Pant won't be known for long if he only excels in white-ball formats but will etch his name in the history books by playing 100, or more, Tests for India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricketers-must-ensure-harmony-between-india-pakistan-akhtar-on-sehwags-chucking-allegations-480737">'Cricketers must ensure harmony between India-Pakistan' - Akhtar on Sehwag's 'chucking' allegation</a>

“If he goes on to play 100+ Tests, his name would be etched in the history books forever. Only 11 (12) Indian cricketers have achieved this feat, and everyone can recall those 11 names,” Sehwag told Sports 18 while speaking&nbsp;about the Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper.

“Why does Virat Kohli emphasise so much on playing Tests? He knows that if he plays 100-150 or even 200 Tests, he will be immortalised in the record books,” Sehwag added.

In Indian cricket history, only 12 cricketers have played 100 or more Tests. The list includes Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh,&nbsp;Kohli and Ishant Sharma.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nobody-would-remember-me-if-i-scored-tons-at-sachin-gangulys-pace-says-ex-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-479904">Nobody would remember me if I scored tons at Sachin, Ganguly's pace, says ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag</a>

Pant was last seen in action on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL 2022 edition, while leading the Delhi franchise who ended fifth on the points table and missed out on qualifying for the playoffs with one victory less under their belt. He will now be KL Rahul's deputy during the India-South Africa T20Is at home, which gets underway on June 09.

Sehwag&nbsp;amassed 8586 runs in Tests averaging 49.34 at an whopping&nbsp;strike rate of 82.23 and also ended with 8,273 runs in ODIs at 35.05, striking at&nbsp;104.33

Rishabh Pant has now become a regular for Team India across formats. While Pant made his name with his IPL heroics and was being seen as the next-big-thing in white-ball formats, the 24-year-old has achieved more success in Test cricket so far at the international level.

Rishabh Pant has now become a regular for Team India across formats. While Pant made his name with his IPL heroics and was being seen as the next-big-thing in white-ball formats, the 24-year-old has achieved more success in Test cricket so far at the international level. In 30 Tests, Pant has 1,920 runs at an average of 40.85 and has scored hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa. Thus, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag -- who also defied odds by doing exceeding well in red-ball format when many deemed him to be fit for the shorter forms of the game -- has made a big statement on Pant. Sehwag stressed the importance of Test cricket and claimed that Pant won't be known for long if he only excels in white-ball formats but will etch his name in the history books by playing 100, or more, Tests for India. ALSO READ | 'Cricketers must ensure harmony between India-Pakistan' - Akhtar on Sehwag's 'chucking' allegation “If he goes on to play 100+ Tests, his name would be etched in the history books forever. Only 11 (12) Indian cricketers have achieved this feat, and everyone can recall those 11 names,” Sehwag told Sports 18 while speaking about the Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper. “Why does Virat Kohli emphasise so much on playing Tests? He knows that if he plays 100-150 or even 200 Tests, he will be immortalised in the record books,” Sehwag added. In Indian cricket history, only 12 cricketers have played 100 or more Tests. The list includes Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Kohli and Ishant Sharma. ALSO READ | Nobody would remember me if I scored tons at Sachin, Ganguly's pace, says ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag Pant was last seen in action on the 22-yard cricket strip during the IPL 2022 edition, while leading the Delhi franchise who ended fifth on the points table and missed out on qualifying for the playoffs with one victory less under their belt. He will now be KL Rahul's deputy during the India-South Africa T20Is at home, which gets underway on June 09. Sehwag amassed 8586 runs in Tests averaging 49.34 at an whopping strike rate of 82.23 and also ended with 8,273 runs in ODIs at 35.05, striking at 104.33

'His name would be etched in history books if....' Virender Sehwag's big statement on Rishabh Pant

R Ashwin remains a cricketer who loves to experiment and add new dimensions to his game. Even in IPL 2022, he has not only contributed for the one-time winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) in his primary role, i.e. with the ball in hand, but he has also stepped up with the bat and performed different roles with aplomb.

Ahead of the Sanju Samson-led RR franchise's must-win game versus Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 2 of the 15th season, Ashwin opened up&nbsp;on his time at the franchise and also spoke in detail about his playing style. The 35-year-old wily spinner has never shied away from trying out new things to improve his game and recalled a handy advice from former Indian head coach Duncan Fletcher.

In a candid conversation on Rajasthan Royals' official YouTube channel, the offie said, "Years ago, we had a head coach called Duncan Fletcher for the Indian cricket team. I used to go and ask him, “how do I improve? How do I get better?' He said ‘the only way you could get better is by making mistakes and failing in front of people’. And that's what I've always done all through my life."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcbvslsg-kolkata-cop-turns-john-cena-to-force-out-intruder-leaves-virat-kohli-in-disbelief-watch-482393">RCBvsLSG: Kolkata cop turns John Cena to force out intruder, leaves Virat Kohli in disbelief - WATCH</a>

On his experiemental nature on the 22-yard cricket strip, from resorting to the controversial mode of dismissal, i.e. mankading, trying out different variations with the&nbsp;ball and adding new shots to his armoury, Ashwin said, "I've received a lot of criticism for how I wanted to expand beyond the realm. Sometimes people just may feel, why is he doing all these things? Is he over-ambitious? Is he trying to do too much? But that's just me. If you take that out of me, you won't get this person. So yes, I come with a lot of problems! If I'm utlizied and if I'm given the form of expressions I require, I can explore boundaries."

R Ashwin remains a cricketer who loves to experiment and add new dimensions to his game. Even in IPL 2022, he has not only contributed for the one-time winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) in his primary role, i.

R Ashwin remains a cricketer who loves to experiment and add new dimensions to his game. Even in IPL 2022, he has not only contributed for the one-time winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) in his primary role, i.e. with the ball in hand, but he has also stepped up with the bat and performed different roles with aplomb. Ahead of the Sanju Samson-led RR franchise's must-win game versus Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 2 of the 15th season, Ashwin opened up on his time at the franchise and also spoke in detail about his playing style. The 35-year-old wily spinner has never shied away from trying out new things to improve his game and recalled a handy advice from former Indian head coach Duncan Fletcher. In a candid conversation on Rajasthan Royals' official YouTube channel, the offie said, "Years ago, we had a head coach called Duncan Fletcher for the Indian cricket team. I used to go and ask him, “how do I improve? How do I get better?' He said ‘the only way you could get better is by making mistakes and failing in front of people’. And that's what I've always done all through my life." ALSO READ | RCBvsLSG: Kolkata cop turns John Cena to force out intruder, leaves Virat Kohli in disbelief - WATCH On his experiemental nature on the 22-yard cricket strip, from resorting to the controversial mode of dismissal, i.e. mankading, trying out different variations with the ball and adding new shots to his armoury, Ashwin said, "I've received a lot of criticism for how I wanted to expand beyond the realm. Sometimes people just may feel, why is he doing all these things? Is he over-ambitious? Is he trying to do too much? But that's just me. If you take that out of me, you won't get this person. So yes, I come with a lot of problems! If I'm utlizied and if I'm given the form of expressions I require, I can explore boundaries."

'Only way you could get better is...' - R Ashwin recalls handy advice from ex-India coach Duncan Fletcher

A lot pf speculations were there over Hardik Pandya ahead of the IPL 2022 edition. Having not played for Team India since the 2021 T20 World Cup, the star all-rounder was preparing himself for the 15th IPL season, in a bid to showcase his fitness and return to the Indian white-ball squads.

In the ongoing IPL season, the 28-year-old Hardik has stunned one and all with his all-round blitz and captaincy. Leading for the first time, Hardik has led with aplomb to take the debutant franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) to the final. With the bat, he has amassed 453 runs -- his best in any season -- and has bowled some tidy overs and accounted for five scalps. Thus, his stocks as a captain has risen and the all-rounder is in-line to lead India's second-stringed T20I side for the upcoming Ireland tour. It is to be noted that Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid pair will be involved with the Test line-up, at the same time, for the one-off match versus England.

“Hardik has been impressive. What is more satisfying is that he has become a very responsible player as a captain. He is certainly in the scheme of things for the captaincy role for the Ireland tour,”&nbsp;a member of the selection committee was quoted as saying by&nbsp;InsideSport.

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-secretary-jay-shah-confirms-vvs-laxman-to-be-in-charge-of-indias-t20i-side-for-ireland-series-482148">BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirms VVS Laxman to be in charge of India's T20I side for Ireland series</a>

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Thus, Hardik could lead India for the first time in any format during the Ireland T20Is, which will get underway on June 26. Moreover, BCCI has confirmed that VVS Laxman -- the NCA chief -- will fill in for regular coach Dravid and be in charge of India for the Ireland series. "He will travel with the Indian team to Dublin" said Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary.
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At present, Hardik-led Gujarat is in the IPL 2022 final and will play the winner of Qualifier 2, which will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) face Rajasthan Royals (RR).
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A lot pf speculations were there over Hardik Pandya ahead of the IPL 2022 edition. Having not played for Team India since the 2021 T20 World Cup, the star all-rounder was preparing himself for the 15th IPL season, in a bid to showcase his fitness and return to the Indian white-ball squads.

A lot pf speculations were there over Hardik Pandya ahead of the IPL 2022 edition. Having not played for Team India since the 2021 T20 World Cup, the star all-rounder was preparing himself for the 15th IPL season, in a bid to showcase his fitness and return to the Indian white-ball squads. In the ongoing IPL season, the 28-year-old Hardik has stunned one and all with his all-round blitz and captaincy. Leading for the first time, Hardik has led with aplomb to take the debutant franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) to the final. With the bat, he has amassed 453 runs -- his best in any season -- and has bowled some tidy overs and accounted for five scalps. Thus, his stocks as a captain has risen and the all-rounder is in-line to lead India's second-stringed T20I side for the upcoming Ireland tour. It is to be noted that Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid pair will be involved with the Test line-up, at the same time, for the one-off match versus England. “Hardik has been impressive. What is more satisfying is that he has become a very responsible player as a captain. He is certainly in the scheme of things for the captaincy role for the Ireland tour,” a member of the selection committee was quoted as saying by InsideSport. ALSO READ | BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirms VVS Laxman to be in charge of India's T20I side for Ireland series Thus, Hardik could lead India for the first time in any format during the Ireland T20Is, which will get underway on June 26. Moreover, BCCI has confirmed that VVS Laxman -- the NCA chief -- will fill in for regular coach Dravid and be in charge of India for the Ireland series. "He will travel with the Indian team to Dublin" said Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary. At present, Hardik-led Gujarat is in the IPL 2022 final and will play the winner of Qualifier 2, which will see Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) face Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Hardik Pandya's captaincy stocks on the rise, star player could lead Team India in Ireland T20Is: Report

Umran Malik's meteoric rise has been one of the major talking points from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer impressed with his raw pace by consistently clocking in excess of 150 kmph and rattled some of the best batters in the league. The 22-year-old fast bowler from Jammu &amp; Kashmir also earned his maiden call up to the Indian team on the back of his impressive run for SRH in IPL 2022.

Speaking about Umran's rise this season, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said the fast bowler's future lies in his own hands and that he will have to ensure his fitness and pace remains unaffected to continue playing for Team India for a long time.

Dubbed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Umran's ability to consistently clock over 150 kmph makes him a stand out fast bowler. While he finished his IPL 2022 campaign as the leading wicket-taker for SRH with 22 wickets from 14 matches, he also holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery of the season at 157 kmph.

“His future is in his hands. If he stays fit and bowls at this pace, I’m sure he will be around for a long time,” Ganguly said talking about Umran's rise in IPL 2022.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rajat-patidar-slams-stunning-maiden-ipl-ton-against-lsg-in-ipl-2022-eliminator-powers-rcb-to-strong-total-482167">Rajat Patidar slams stunning maiden IPL ton against LSG in IPL 2022 Eliminator, powers RCB to strong total</a>

The BCCI president also spoke about the other youngsters who impressed for their respective teams in IPL 2022. Ganguly praised the likes of Tilak Verma, Rahul Tripathi and Rahul Tewatia among others for their heroics for their respective teams this season.

“Many have played well in this IPL. Tilak (Varma) has done well for Mumbai Indians. Rahul (Tripathi) for Sunrisers, Tewatia for Gujarat Titans. We have seen many emerging fast bowlers like Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan… It’s a place where talent gets exposure," said Ganguly.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mohammad-kaif-lauds-hardik-pandya-as-gt-reach-final-havent-seen-a-better-captain-than-him-in-ipl-2022-482077">Mohammad Kaif lauds Hardik Pandya as GT reach final: Haven't seen a better captain than him in IPL 2022</a>

The likes of Umran, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan are all part of India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. India will host South Africa for a five-match T20I series where these young guns will be looking to impress if given the opportunity.

Umran Malik's meteoric rise has been one of the major talking points from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer impressed with his raw pace by consistently clocking in excess of 150 kmph and rattled some of the best batters in the league.

Umran Malik's meteoric rise has been one of the major talking points from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer impressed with his raw pace by consistently clocking in excess of 150 kmph and rattled some of the best batters in the league. The 22-year-old fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir also earned his maiden call up to the Indian team on the back of his impressive run for SRH in IPL 2022. Speaking about Umran's rise this season, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said the fast bowler's future lies in his own hands and that he will have to ensure his fitness and pace remains unaffected to continue playing for Team India for a long time. Dubbed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Umran's ability to consistently clock over 150 kmph makes him a stand out fast bowler. While he finished his IPL 2022 campaign as the leading wicket-taker for SRH with 22 wickets from 14 matches, he also holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery of the season at 157 kmph. “His future is in his hands. If he stays fit and bowls at this pace, I’m sure he will be around for a long time,” Ganguly said talking about Umran's rise in IPL 2022. Also Read: Rajat Patidar slams stunning maiden IPL ton against LSG in IPL 2022 Eliminator, powers RCB to strong total The BCCI president also spoke about the other youngsters who impressed for their respective teams in IPL 2022. Ganguly praised the likes of Tilak Verma, Rahul Tripathi and Rahul Tewatia among others for their heroics for their respective teams this season. “Many have played well in this IPL. Tilak (Varma) has done well for Mumbai Indians. Rahul (Tripathi) for Sunrisers, Tewatia for Gujarat Titans. We have seen many emerging fast bowlers like Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan… It’s a place where talent gets exposure," said Ganguly. Also Read: Mohammad Kaif lauds Hardik Pandya as GT reach final: Haven't seen a better captain than him in IPL 2022 The likes of Umran, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan are all part of India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. India will host South Africa for a five-match T20I series where these young guns will be looking to impress if given the opportunity.

'He will be around for a long time': BCCI president Sourav Ganguly reacts to Umran Malik's rise in IPL 2022

BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly had revealed that his former teammate and Test specialist VVS Laxman was eager to be India's head coach when Ravi Shastri's tenure was set to end in late 2021. However, the position went to Laxman's good friend Rahul Dravid.

Nonetheless, Laxman -- who is now serving as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) -- is set to take charge of India's T20I squad for the upcoming two-match series versus hosts Ireland. The former middle-order batter will fill in for Dravid, who will be with the Indian Test line-up ahead of their fifth and final match versus England in the United Kingdom, set to be held on July 01.

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"He will travel with the Indian team to Dublin" said Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary, confirming that Laxman will take charge&nbsp;in the absence of&nbsp;Dravid.&nbsp;
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-chief-selector-reacts-to-cheteshwar-pujaras-test-comeback-for-india-england-series-finale-482085">Former chief selector reacts to Cheteshwar Pujara's Test comeback for India-England series finale</a>

The arrangement is similar to the one Team India had last year. During India's tour of the United Kingdom, after&nbsp;the WTC final and prior to the&nbsp;five Tests versus then Joe Root-led England, regular coach Shastri was with Virat Kohli-starrer red-ball team whereas Dravid had stepped in as the stand-in coach of the white-ball side who had travelled to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and T20Is each.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-has-amazing-reflexes-like-f1-driver-and-mind-like-5-star-general-says-team-indias-former-trainer-482128">MS Dhoni has amazing reflexes like F1 driver and mind like 5-star General, says Team India's former trainer</a>

This will be Laxman's first-ever assignment in a coaching role for the senior men's team. Earlier this year, he was a part of the backroom staff of the India U-19 team that lifted the trophy in the Caribbean island, beating England in the final.

The squad for the Ireland T20Is is yet to be announced by the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee.
</section>

BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly had revealed that his former teammate and Test specialist VVS Laxman was eager to be India's head coach when Ravi Shastri's tenure was set to end in late 2021.

BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly had revealed that his former teammate and Test specialist VVS Laxman was eager to be India's head coach when Ravi Shastri's tenure was set to end in late 2021. However, the position went to Laxman's good friend Rahul Dravid. Nonetheless, Laxman -- who is now serving as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) -- is set to take charge of India's T20I squad for the upcoming two-match series versus hosts Ireland. The former middle-order batter will fill in for Dravid, who will be with the Indian Test line-up ahead of their fifth and final match versus England in the United Kingdom, set to be held on July 01. "He will travel with the Indian team to Dublin" said Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary, confirming that Laxman will take charge in the absence of Dravid. ALSO READ | Former chief selector reacts to Cheteshwar Pujara's Test comeback for India-England series finale The arrangement is similar to the one Team India had last year. During India's tour of the United Kingdom, after the WTC final and prior to the five Tests versus then Joe Root-led England, regular coach Shastri was with Virat Kohli-starrer red-ball team whereas Dravid had stepped in as the stand-in coach of the white-ball side who had travelled to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and T20Is each. ALSO READ | MS Dhoni has amazing reflexes like F1 driver and mind like 5-star General, says Team India's former trainer This will be Laxman's first-ever assignment in a coaching role for the senior men's team. Earlier this year, he was a part of the backroom staff of the India U-19 team that lifted the trophy in the Caribbean island, beating England in the final. The squad for the Ireland T20Is is yet to be announced by the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirms VVS Laxman to be in charge of India's T20I side for Ireland series

MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket to date. Debuting for Team India in late 2004, when the team desperately needed a specialist keeper-batter, Dhoni became the darling of the masses instantly courtesy of his big hits.&nbsp;

Soon, Dhoni's presence of mind, calmness, improved keeping skills, and fearless approach to the game saw him being promoted as India's captain across formats. While he became much a mature finisher in limited-overs, got the runs coming in whites (especially by playing some gutsy knocks both at home and overseas), and made world cricket take note of his unorthodox yet effective keeping skills, Dhoni changed Indian cricket forever by leading them to all major ICC titles and No. 1 rankings across formats.

Dhoni ended with 17,266 runs, 108 half-centuries, 16 tons, 634 catches, and 195 stumpings, overall, however, his knack for reading the game from behind the stumps,&nbsp;fast reflexes as a keeper, power-hitting, quick legs and overall fitness separated him from others.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/virat-rohits-barren-run-to-mi-csks-mighty-fall-5-surprising-elements-from-ipl-2022s-league-stage-481871">Virat, Rohit's barren run to MI-CSK's mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022's league stage</a>

Recently, Team India's former trainer&nbsp;Ramji Srinivasan -- part of the team during their 2011 ODI World Cup success -- hailed the former captain after having observed him from closed quarters.

"MSD is an enigma and like Sachin Tendulkar, is one in a billion product. He does what suits him, be it strength work, agility, speed or hybrid work. He has his own protocols in place, which suits him. He has amazing reflex like a Formula One driver and with a mind like 5-star General. Very few can match MSD fitness when they reach that age," Srinivasan told the New Indian Express.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-legend-ms-dhoni-confirms-participation-in-ipl-2023-says-will-be-unfair-not-to-say-thank-you-to-chennai-480762">CSK legend MS Dhoni confirms participation in IPL 2023, says 'will be unfair to not say thank you to Chennai'</a>

Dhoni was recently seen in IPL 2022, where he once again represented the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise. The 40-year-old continued to display his sharp mind as a leader and keeper whereas his fitness remains unmatched. He has confirmed his participation in IPL 2023 and is most likely to continue as CSK's skipper for another season.

MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket to date. Debuting for Team India in late 2004, when the team desperately needed a specialist keeper-batter, Dhoni became the darling of the masses instantly courtesy of his big hits.

MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, the 40-year-old remains a big name in world cricket to date. Debuting for Team India in late 2004, when the team desperately needed a specialist keeper-batter, Dhoni became the darling of the masses instantly courtesy of his big hits. Soon, Dhoni's presence of mind, calmness, improved keeping skills, and fearless approach to the game saw him being promoted as India's captain across formats. While he became much a mature finisher in limited-overs, got the runs coming in whites (especially by playing some gutsy knocks both at home and overseas), and made world cricket take note of his unorthodox yet effective keeping skills, Dhoni changed Indian cricket forever by leading them to all major ICC titles and No. 1 rankings across formats. Dhoni ended with 17,266 runs, 108 half-centuries, 16 tons, 634 catches, and 195 stumpings, overall, however, his knack for reading the game from behind the stumps, fast reflexes as a keeper, power-hitting, quick legs and overall fitness separated him from others. ALSO READ | Virat, Rohit's barren run to MI-CSK's mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022's league stage Recently, Team India's former trainer Ramji Srinivasan -- part of the team during their 2011 ODI World Cup success -- hailed the former captain after having observed him from closed quarters. "MSD is an enigma and like Sachin Tendulkar, is one in a billion product. He does what suits him, be it strength work, agility, speed or hybrid work. He has his own protocols in place, which suits him. He has amazing reflex like a Formula One driver and with a mind like 5-star General. Very few can match MSD fitness when they reach that age," Srinivasan told the New Indian Express. ALSO READ | CSK legend MS Dhoni confirms participation in IPL 2023, says 'will be unfair to not say thank you to Chennai' Dhoni was recently seen in IPL 2022, where he once again represented the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise. The 40-year-old continued to display his sharp mind as a leader and keeper whereas his fitness remains unmatched. He has confirmed his participation in IPL 2023 and is most likely to continue as CSK's skipper for another season.

MS Dhoni has amazing reflexes like F1 driver and mind like 5-star General, says Team India's former trainer

On Sunday (May 22), the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee announced a 17-man squad for Rohit Sharma-led India's fifth and final Test versus England, which will be held in early July at&nbsp;Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Among the four senior players who were dropped for the home series versus Sri Lanka, in March, Cheteshwar Pujara is the only one to have stormed his way back into the squad. Pujara was rewarded for his memorable run for&nbsp;Sussex in the County Championship in England. The right-hander returned with&nbsp;720 runs in 8 innings at an average of 120.0, including two double-tons, to make a comeback into the Test line-up for the series decider versus England, i.e. a part of&nbsp;the incomplete series held last year in the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

Thus, former chief selector MSK Prasad reacted to Pujara's comeback in whites and hailed his commitment. “Unbelievable. Only one word I can say is an unbelievable comeback. This shows the commitment he has towards the sport and himself. It's a wonderful story,” Prasad told NDTV.

<section>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-didnt-want-anyone-to-question-him-virender-sehwag-hails-anil-kumble-for-his-test-comeback-481825">'I didn't want anyone to question him...' - Virender Sehwag hails Anil Kumble for his Test comeback</a>

“Not many people would have believed what he has done. I think credit to him, for the way he performed in the County to stake his claim in the Test team. Because all through his career he has always been a Test cricketer, and had he not been there in this team, I think we would have missed him forever," the former keeper-batter added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cheteshwar-pujara-returns-as-selectors-announce-indias-squad-for-one-off-test-against-england-481256">Cheteshwar Pujara returns as selectors announce India's squad for one-off Test against England</a>

Pujara was unsold at the IPL 2022 mega auction, following which he went to play the County championship.&nbsp;The decision proved to be a masterstroke for the Test specialist as he made a quick return to the red-ball squad after being dropped following a poor run in the South Africa Tests, held early this year.

Indian cricket team Test squad:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
</section>

On Sunday (May 22), the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee announced a 17-man squad for Rohit Sharma-led India's fifth and final Test versus England, which will be held in early July at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

On Sunday (May 22), the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee announced a 17-man squad for Rohit Sharma-led India's fifth and final Test versus England, which will be held in early July at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Among the four senior players who were dropped for the home series versus Sri Lanka, in March, Cheteshwar Pujara is the only one to have stormed his way back into the squad. Pujara was rewarded for his memorable run for Sussex in the County Championship in England. The right-hander returned with 720 runs in 8 innings at an average of 120.0, including two double-tons, to make a comeback into the Test line-up for the series decider versus England, i.e. a part of the incomplete series held last year in the United Kingdom. Thus, former chief selector MSK Prasad reacted to Pujara's comeback in whites and hailed his commitment. “Unbelievable. Only one word I can say is an unbelievable comeback. This shows the commitment he has towards the sport and himself. It's a wonderful story,” Prasad told NDTV. ALSO READ | 'I didn't want anyone to question him...' - Virender Sehwag hails Anil Kumble for his Test comeback “Not many people would have believed what he has done. I think credit to him, for the way he performed in the County to stake his claim in the Test team. Because all through his career he has always been a Test cricketer, and had he not been there in this team, I think we would have missed him forever," the former keeper-batter added. ALSO READ | Cheteshwar Pujara returns as selectors announce India's squad for one-off Test against England Pujara was unsold at the IPL 2022 mega auction, following which he went to play the County championship. The decision proved to be a masterstroke for the Test specialist as he made a quick return to the red-ball squad after being dropped following a poor run in the South Africa Tests, held early this year. Indian cricket team Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna

Former chief selector reacts to Cheteshwar Pujara's Test comeback for India-England series finale

At the time of MS Dhoni's sabbatical, post the 2019 ODI World Cup, many had their doubts about Rishabh Pant's abilities and whether he would be able to fill in the humongous shoes of the former. Nonetheless, the 24-year-old Pant has stepped up his game since late 2020 and is now raising his stature slowly and steadily for India across formats.

Hence, Pant is already India's first-choice keeper-batter in all forms of the game and is now even being trusted with leadership roles. Thus, the left-hander has served as India's vice-captain in the recent home series and has been named as KL Rahul's deputy in the forthcoming home T20Is versus South Africa. Moreover, he is handling captaincy duties for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL as well. Thus, comparisons are bound to happen between Pant and his idol Dhoni.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-miller-stars-as-gujarat-titans-beat-rajasthan-royals-by-7-wickets-to-secure-a-spot-in-ipl-2022-final-481917">David Miller stars as Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets to secure a spot in IPL 2022 final</a>

Nonetheless, BCCI chief and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly have urged the people to refrain from making 'unfair' comparisons between Pant and Dhoni.&nbsp;

"Don't compare Pant with MS Dhoni. Dhoni has so much experience, has captained 500-plus games in IPL, Tests and ODIs. So it's not fair for Rishabh to be compared with Dhoni,"&nbsp;Ganguly told reporters before&nbsp;Qualifier 1 of&nbsp;IPL 2022, where&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals lost to Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday (May 24).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/virat-rohits-barren-run-to-mi-csks-mighty-fall-5-surprising-elements-from-ipl-2022s-league-stage-481871">Virat, Rohit's barren run to MI-CSK's mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022's league stage</a>

Talking about Pant, he ended IPL 15 with&nbsp;340 runs at a strike rate of 151. Under him, DC ended at the fifth spot and missed out on qualifying for the playoffs with a defeat at the hands of bottom-ranked Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last league stage encounter. Pant will now shift his focus on the India-SA&nbsp; home series, which gets underway on June 09.

At the time of MS Dhoni's sabbatical, post the 2019 ODI World Cup, many had their doubts about Rishabh Pant's abilities and whether he would be able to fill in the humongous shoes of the former.

At the time of MS Dhoni's sabbatical, post the 2019 ODI World Cup, many had their doubts about Rishabh Pant's abilities and whether he would be able to fill in the humongous shoes of the former. Nonetheless, the 24-year-old Pant has stepped up his game since late 2020 and is now raising his stature slowly and steadily for India across formats. Hence, Pant is already India's first-choice keeper-batter in all forms of the game and is now even being trusted with leadership roles. Thus, the left-hander has served as India's vice-captain in the recent home series and has been named as KL Rahul's deputy in the forthcoming home T20Is versus South Africa. Moreover, he is handling captaincy duties for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL as well. Thus, comparisons are bound to happen between Pant and his idol Dhoni. ALSO READ | David Miller stars as Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets to secure a spot in IPL 2022 final Nonetheless, BCCI chief and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly have urged the people to refrain from making 'unfair' comparisons between Pant and Dhoni. "Don't compare Pant with MS Dhoni. Dhoni has so much experience, has captained 500-plus games in IPL, Tests and ODIs. So it's not fair for Rishabh to be compared with Dhoni," Ganguly told reporters before Qualifier 1 of IPL 2022, where Rajasthan Royals lost to Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday (May 24). ALSO READ | Virat, Rohit's barren run to MI-CSK's mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022's league stage Talking about Pant, he ended IPL 15 with 340 runs at a strike rate of 151. Under him, DC ended at the fifth spot and missed out on qualifying for the playoffs with a defeat at the hands of bottom-ranked Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last league stage encounter. Pant will now shift his focus on the India-SA home series, which gets underway on June 09.

It's unfair for Rishabh Pant to be compared with MS Dhoni, says BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly

Virender Sehwag had a stellar run for Team India across formats. While his playing style was more suited to the limited-overs, the former Indian opener proved his critics wrong with some stunning performances in the red-ball format. As a result, he ended with&nbsp;8,586 runs in whites, including two triple tons. In fact, he scored more in Tests after 8,273 runs in his ODI career and, hence, defied the odds.

Despite his fruitful run in whites, Sehwag was dropped from the Test line-up for a year after playing his 52nd match in the format. Before India's famous tour of Australia in 2007-08, he was recalled into the side on then captain Anil Kumble's insistence. While the decision was questioned by many, Sehwag proved Kumble's decision right by scoring big in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Recently, Sehwag hailed his former skipper Kumble for showing faith in him.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricketers-must-ensure-harmony-between-india-pakistan-akhtar-on-sehwags-chucking-allegations-480737">'Cricketers must ensure harmony between India-Pakistan' - Akhtar on Sehwag's 'chucking' allegation</a>

“Suddenly, I realised I was not part of the Test side; it hurt. I would have ended with 10,000+ Test runs had I not been dropped for that period,” Sehwag told&nbsp;Sports 18.

After not being a part of the playing XI for the first two Tests in the India-Australia series Down Under, Sehwag recalled Kumble's words ahead of a practice match before the penultimate Test. “Score a 50 in this match, and you will be picked for the match in Perth.”

As a result of returning with a century in the India-ACT Invitation XI match, Sehwag stormed his way back into the XI for the Perth Test. He gave a good start to the team in both the innings and also claimed two wickets in India's famous 72-run win. However, it was in the fourth and final Test where the ex-Indian opener showed his class and announced his return in style, scoring 63 and a match-saving&nbsp;151-run knock in the second innings.

“Those 60 runs were the toughest I scored in my life. I was playing to repay the faith Anil Bhai put in me. I did not want anyone to question him for bringing me to Australia. I was focused on the striker’s end; on the other end, I spoke to the umpire, humming my favourite songs. The pressure was gone," Sehwag added.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nobody-would-remember-me-if-i-scored-tons-at-sachin-gangulys-pace-says-ex-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-479904">Nobody would remember me if I scored tons at Sachin, Ganguly's pace, says ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag</a>

Sehwag remembered Kumble's words after his memorable performance in the series decider, in Adelaida. Back then, Kumble had told Sehwag, "As long as I am the Test team captain, you will not be dropped from the side."

Before signing off, Sehwag lauded both Kumble and Sourav Ganguly for trusting and backing him. “That’s what a player yearns for the most, the confidence of his captain. I got that from Ganguly in my initial years and from Kumble later,” he&nbsp;concluded.
</section>

Virender Sehwag had a stellar run for Team India across formats. While his playing style was more suited to the limited-overs, the former Indian opener proved his critics wrong with some stunning performances in the red-ball format.

Virender Sehwag had a stellar run for Team India across formats. While his playing style was more suited to the limited-overs, the former Indian opener proved his critics wrong with some stunning performances in the red-ball format. As a result, he ended with 8,586 runs in whites, including two triple tons. In fact, he scored more in Tests after 8,273 runs in his ODI career and, hence, defied the odds. Despite his fruitful run in whites, Sehwag was dropped from the Test line-up for a year after playing his 52nd match in the format. Before India's famous tour of Australia in 2007-08, he was recalled into the side on then captain Anil Kumble's insistence. While the decision was questioned by many, Sehwag proved Kumble's decision right by scoring big in the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Recently, Sehwag hailed his former skipper Kumble for showing faith in him. ALSO READ | 'Cricketers must ensure harmony between India-Pakistan' - Akhtar on Sehwag's 'chucking' allegation “Suddenly, I realised I was not part of the Test side; it hurt. I would have ended with 10,000+ Test runs had I not been dropped for that period,” Sehwag told Sports 18. After not being a part of the playing XI for the first two Tests in the India-Australia series Down Under, Sehwag recalled Kumble's words ahead of a practice match before the penultimate Test. “Score a 50 in this match, and you will be picked for the match in Perth.” As a result of returning with a century in the India-ACT Invitation XI match, Sehwag stormed his way back into the XI for the Perth Test. He gave a good start to the team in both the innings and also claimed two wickets in India's famous 72-run win. However, it was in the fourth and final Test where the ex-Indian opener showed his class and announced his return in style, scoring 63 and a match-saving 151-run knock in the second innings. “Those 60 runs were the toughest I scored in my life. I was playing to repay the faith Anil Bhai put in me. I did not want anyone to question him for bringing me to Australia. I was focused on the striker’s end; on the other end, I spoke to the umpire, humming my favourite songs. The pressure was gone," Sehwag added. ALSO READ | Nobody would remember me if I scored tons at Sachin, Ganguly's pace, says ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag Sehwag remembered Kumble's words after his memorable performance in the series decider, in Adelaida. Back then, Kumble had told Sehwag, "As long as I am the Test team captain, you will not be dropped from the side." Before signing off, Sehwag lauded both Kumble and Sourav Ganguly for trusting and backing him. “That’s what a player yearns for the most, the confidence of his captain. I got that from Ganguly in my initial years and from Kumble later,” he concluded.

'I didn't want anyone to question him...' - Virender Sehwag hails Anil Kumble for his Test comeback

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's struggles with the bat were quite evident in the recently-concluded league stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. While Rohit endured his worst ever season with the bat in IPL history as his team Mumbai Indians (MI) were knocked out of the tournament early, Kohli too hasn't managed to score runs consistently for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Their poor form with the willow is also a huge concern for the Indian team going forward.

However, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) president Sourav Ganguly is not losing his sweat over Kohli and Rohit's rough patch and has backed the duo to bounce back strongly. Kohli and Rohit have been two of India's best batters across formats and have been among the runs consistently over the years in international cricket.

While they were expected to deliver for the respective sides in the ongoing IPL 2022, both the superstars failed to make an impact. Rohit failed to score even a single half-century throughout the season as he finished with just 268 runs from 14 matches at a poor average of&nbsp;19.14 and a strike rate of over 120.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-cant-keep-such-players-former-india-spinner-backs-virat-kohli-amid-batting-concerns-481804">'You can't keep such players....' - Former India spinner backs Virat Kohli amid batting concerns</a>

Kohli, on the other hand, has been dismissed on golden ducks as many as 3 times in 14 matches so far for RCB this season. The batting maestro has amassed only 309 runs at an average of 23.77 and a strike rate of just over 117. Kohli still has a few games in his hands to end the season on a high as RCB have made it to the playoffs.

"They are very good players. I'm sure they will be back among runs. They play so much of cricket that at times they go out of form. Kohli played very well in the last game, especially when it was required for RCB. That's why he (Kohli) was so happy that RCB qualified," Ganguly said at a promotional event speaking about Kohli and Rohit's rough patch.

"They are all great players, it's a matter of time they will be at their best," the BCCI president added.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rr-vs-gt-yuzvendra-chahal-set-to-script-historic-feat-on-the-brink-of-breaking-an-all-time-record-in-ipl-481807">Yuzvendra Chahal set to script historic feat, on the brink of breaking an all-time record in IPL</a>

Rohit's failure to provide them with good starts at the top resulted in Mumbai Indians' bowling out of the competition early this season. The five-time champions got off to a woeful start in their campaign as they lost as many as eight matches in a row before winning four out of their remaining six games.

Kohli's struggles were undermined at RCB due to the good form of skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, who has been phenomenal in the role of a finisher for the franchise this season. RCB will take on Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday (May 25).

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's struggles with the bat were quite evident in the recently-concluded league stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. While Rohit endured his worst ever season with the bat in IPL history as his team Mumbai Indians (MI) were knocked out of the tournament early, Kohli too hasn't managed to score runs consistently for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's struggles with the bat were quite evident in the recently-concluded league stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. While Rohit endured his worst ever season with the bat in IPL history as his team Mumbai Indians (MI) were knocked out of the tournament early, Kohli too hasn't managed to score runs consistently for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Their poor form with the willow is also a huge concern for the Indian team going forward. However, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) president Sourav Ganguly is not losing his sweat over Kohli and Rohit's rough patch and has backed the duo to bounce back strongly. Kohli and Rohit have been two of India's best batters across formats and have been among the runs consistently over the years in international cricket. While they were expected to deliver for the respective sides in the ongoing IPL 2022, both the superstars failed to make an impact. Rohit failed to score even a single half-century throughout the season as he finished with just 268 runs from 14 matches at a poor average of 19.14 and a strike rate of over 120. Also Read: 'You can't keep such players....' - Former India spinner backs Virat Kohli amid batting concerns Kohli, on the other hand, has been dismissed on golden ducks as many as 3 times in 14 matches so far for RCB this season. The batting maestro has amassed only 309 runs at an average of 23.77 and a strike rate of just over 117. Kohli still has a few games in his hands to end the season on a high as RCB have made it to the playoffs. "They are very good players. I'm sure they will be back among runs. They play so much of cricket that at times they go out of form. Kohli played very well in the last game, especially when it was required for RCB. That's why he (Kohli) was so happy that RCB qualified," Ganguly said at a promotional event speaking about Kohli and Rohit's rough patch. "They are all great players, it's a matter of time they will be at their best," the BCCI president added. Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal set to script historic feat, on the brink of breaking an all-time record in IPL Rohit's failure to provide them with good starts at the top resulted in Mumbai Indians' bowling out of the competition early this season. The five-time champions got off to a woeful start in their campaign as they lost as many as eight matches in a row before winning four out of their remaining six games. Kohli's struggles were undermined at RCB due to the good form of skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, who has been phenomenal in the role of a finisher for the franchise this season. RCB will take on Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday (May 25).

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly reacts to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's rough patch in IPL 2022

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee released an 18-member Team India squad for their upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, which is set to be held in India from June 09. While regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, KL Rahul has been given the task to lead the side comprising some young and veteran cricketers.

While some uncapped players such as Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh have been rewarded following their performances in IPL 2022, Ishan Kishan managed to hold onto his place despite an ordinary run in the 15th season for the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI). Being the most expensive player in this year's mega auction, the 23-year-old Ishan ended the 15th edition with&nbsp;418 runs at a strike rate of&nbsp;120.11 in&nbsp;14 matches. He wasn't at his consistent best and surely felt the pressure of a heavy price tag.&nbsp;

Thus, many raised concerns about seeing Ishan's name in the 18-man squad, however, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed the selection of the MI and India opener. He cited examples of Rohit and Virat's ordinary runs with the bat in the ongoing season and defended Ishan. For the unversed, Rohit ended with not even a single half-century whereas Kohli too struggled for runs but has managed two half-centuries in 14 games with his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) still alive in the competition with a hard-earned playoffs ticket.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-how-ms-dhonis-csk-and-rohit-sharma-led-mis-debacle-was-always-on-the-cards-481557">IPL 2022: How MS Dhoni's CSK and Rohit Sharma-led MI's debacle was always on the cards</a>

"One IPL season doesn't make a difference. He is a value and utility player. There’s no draft or auction factor involved here while playing for India. When a player goes for ₹15 crore, all 8 franchises are after him. That’s how you calculate his value. Scoring runs in IPL is different. Even Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli haven't scored runs. Ishan Kishan has certainly undergone a chance, because of which he couldn't perform as well as he would have liked to. And that was one big reason why MI struggled this season," Latif said on YouTube show 'Caught Behind'.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-lot-of-people-had-given-up-on-me-dinesh-karthik-reacts-after-his-memorable-team-india-comeback-481413">'A lot of people had given up on me' - Dinesh Karthik reacts after his memorable Team India comeback</a>

India's T20I squad for the South Africa series -&nbsp;KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik
</section>

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee released an 18-member Team India squad for their upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, which is set to be held in India from June 09.

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee released an 18-member Team India squad for their upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, which is set to be held in India from June 09. While regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, KL Rahul has been given the task to lead the side comprising some young and veteran cricketers. While some uncapped players such as Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh have been rewarded following their performances in IPL 2022, Ishan Kishan managed to hold onto his place despite an ordinary run in the 15th season for the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI). Being the most expensive player in this year's mega auction, the 23-year-old Ishan ended the 15th edition with 418 runs at a strike rate of 120.11 in 14 matches. He wasn't at his consistent best and surely felt the pressure of a heavy price tag. Thus, many raised concerns about seeing Ishan's name in the 18-man squad, however, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed the selection of the MI and India opener. He cited examples of Rohit and Virat's ordinary runs with the bat in the ongoing season and defended Ishan. For the unversed, Rohit ended with not even a single half-century whereas Kohli too struggled for runs but has managed two half-centuries in 14 games with his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) still alive in the competition with a hard-earned playoffs ticket. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: How MS Dhoni's CSK and Rohit Sharma-led MI's debacle was always on the cards "One IPL season doesn't make a difference. He is a value and utility player. There’s no draft or auction factor involved here while playing for India. When a player goes for ₹15 crore, all 8 franchises are after him. That’s how you calculate his value. Scoring runs in IPL is different. Even Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli haven't scored runs. Ishan Kishan has certainly undergone a chance, because of which he couldn't perform as well as he would have liked to. And that was one big reason why MI struggled this season," Latif said on YouTube show 'Caught Behind'. ALSO READ | 'A lot of people had given up on me' - Dinesh Karthik reacts after his memorable Team India comeback India's T20I squad for the South Africa series - KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

Even Rohit, Virat haven't scored runs: Former Pak captain defends Ishan Kishan's selection for SA T20Is

Venkatesh Iyer has opened up on comparisons with star all-rounder Hardik Panda ahead of Team India's T20I series against South Africa at home. While Iyer has managed to retain his spot in the squad, Pandya will be making his comeback to the Indian side after a long spell on the sidelines due to injury and recovery.

Pandya had opted for a break from all forms of cricket after his dismal show in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE last year. The star all-rounder worked on his bowling and recovered fully from his back injury before returning as the captain of Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2022.

In Pandya's absence, Venkatesh Iyer was slotted into the Indian side as his replacement and featured in T20I series against the likes of New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies at home. He also impressed with the bat in the finisher's role and is all set to share the dressing room with Pandya for the first time in the T20Is against South Africa.

During Pandya's absence from international cricket, Iyer often earned comparisons with the star all-rounder owing to his heroics for the Indian team. He recently opened up on comparisons with Pandya and said the GT captain is way ahead of him and has won many matches for India already.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-umran-malik-make-his-india-debut-against-south-africa-former-head-coach-ravi-shastri-gives-his-take-481473">Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa? Former head coach Ravi Shastri gives his take</a>

“Hardik Pandya is a superstar of the game. It will be an immense opportunity for me to learn so much from him. He has won so many games for our country and I hope he keeps doing so. I am taking it as a beautiful opportunity to learn and observe him. There is no competition between us, he is way ahead, and I would like to play alongside him,” Venkatesh was&nbsp;quoted as saying by&nbsp;Sports Tiger.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/maybe-he-was-told-to-change-his-statement-ex-india-opener-on-shreyas-iyers-clarification-on-kkr-ceo-481533">'Maybe he was told to change his statement': Ex-India opener on Shreyas Iyer's clarification on KKR CEO</a>

Hardik has been phenomenal as captain for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 and has also impressed with the bat. The GT skipper has so far notched up&nbsp;413 runs in 13 matches at an impressive average of over 41 and a strike rate of 131.52. While he hasn't bowled regularly, Pandya has also managed to pick up four wickets in 8 innings for his team.

Hardik-led Gujarat Titans finished on top of the points table in the league stage and will face second-placed Rajasthan Royals in the 1st Qualifier in Kolkata on Tuesday (May 24).

Venkatesh Iyer has opened up on comparisons with star all-rounder Hardik Panda ahead of Team India's T20I series against South Africa at home. While Iyer has managed to retain his spot in the squad, Pandya will be making his comeback to the Indian side after a long spell on the sidelines due to injury and recovery.

Venkatesh Iyer has opened up on comparisons with star all-rounder Hardik Panda ahead of Team India's T20I series against South Africa at home. While Iyer has managed to retain his spot in the squad, Pandya will be making his comeback to the Indian side after a long spell on the sidelines due to injury and recovery. Pandya had opted for a break from all forms of cricket after his dismal show in the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE last year. The star all-rounder worked on his bowling and recovered fully from his back injury before returning as the captain of Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2022. In Pandya's absence, Venkatesh Iyer was slotted into the Indian side as his replacement and featured in T20I series against the likes of New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies at home. He also impressed with the bat in the finisher's role and is all set to share the dressing room with Pandya for the first time in the T20Is against South Africa. During Pandya's absence from international cricket, Iyer often earned comparisons with the star all-rounder owing to his heroics for the Indian team. He recently opened up on comparisons with Pandya and said the GT captain is way ahead of him and has won many matches for India already. Also Read: Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa? Former head coach Ravi Shastri gives his take “Hardik Pandya is a superstar of the game. It will be an immense opportunity for me to learn so much from him. He has won so many games for our country and I hope he keeps doing so. I am taking it as a beautiful opportunity to learn and observe him. There is no competition between us, he is way ahead, and I would like to play alongside him,” Venkatesh was quoted as saying by Sports Tiger. Also Read: 'Maybe he was told to change his statement': Ex-India opener on Shreyas Iyer's clarification on KKR CEO Hardik has been phenomenal as captain for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 and has also impressed with the bat. The GT skipper has so far notched up 413 runs in 13 matches at an impressive average of over 41 and a strike rate of 131.52. While he hasn't bowled regularly, Pandya has also managed to pick up four wickets in 8 innings for his team. Hardik-led Gujarat Titans finished on top of the points table in the league stage and will face second-placed Rajasthan Royals in the 1st Qualifier in Kolkata on Tuesday (May 24).

'He is way ahead': Team India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer opens up on comparisons with Hardik Pandya

Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) have joined the IPL 2022 playoffs for the first time since&nbsp;2018 edition. While many players have stood tall for the one-time winners, R Ashwin's inclusion and the out-of-the-box usage of the star player from the team management has helped the RR franchise extensively in the 15th season.&nbsp;

Ashwin has not only bowled some tidy spells, picked up crucial wickets from time to time but the 35-year-old has become a vital cog of Samson &amp; Co. by virtue of his cameos and overall contributions with the bat. In 14 games, 183 runs with a fifty -- his maiden IPL half-century -- and a match-finishing 40 not out in a moderate run-chase versus defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recently.&nbsp;

Thus, Ashwin is having a ball in IPL 2022 and looks set to continue in a similar stead for the inaugural champions in the playoffs. Ahead of the knockouts, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has backed the all-rounder Ashwin to feature in India's T20 World Cup squad later this year. For the unversed, he was also a part of India's scheme of things in last year's T20 WC. Back then, he had staged a combeack in limited-overs after a four-year hiatus based on his impressive run in IPL 2021.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-sa-t20is-former-indian-opener-snubs-dinesh-karthik-in-his-probable-xi-for-kl-rahul-co-481461">India vs SA T20Is: Former Indian opener snubs Dinesh Karthik in his probable XI for KL Rahul &amp; Co.</a>

<section>“I think he wanted to show he can bat anywhere. He started his career as an opening batsman, not at the first-class level may be, but at the club level. Now he has become one of the greatest spinners in the game," Gavaskar told&nbsp;Star Sports.</section>

"And he also knows that he is a batsman who has got five Test hundreds. So he can bat, he knows that. He has now shown that he can do it in the ultra-short format and be in the Indian team for the World Cup in Australia. That is his aim and that is why he is so excited about his own batting performance. He's showing with the ball and with the bat that ‘Hello! Pick me’," Gavaskar added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-playoffs-all-you-need-to-know-about-schedule-timings-and-venues-481387">IPL 2022 playoffs: All you need to know about schedule, timings and venues</a>

<section>Ashwin-starrer RR have a serious chance of lifting their first IPL title after 14 years in the ongoing season. They are gearing up for Qualifier 1 where they will lock horns with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), who ended the league stage at the top of the points table.</section>

Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) have joined the IPL 2022 playoffs for the first time since 2018 edition. While many players have stood tall for the one-time winners, R Ashwin's inclusion and the out-of-the-box usage of the star player from the team management has helped the RR franchise extensively in the 15th season.

Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) have joined the IPL 2022 playoffs for the first time since 2018 edition. While many players have stood tall for the one-time winners, R Ashwin's inclusion and the out-of-the-box usage of the star player from the team management has helped the RR franchise extensively in the 15th season. Ashwin has not only bowled some tidy spells, picked up crucial wickets from time to time but the 35-year-old has become a vital cog of Samson & Co. by virtue of his cameos and overall contributions with the bat. In 14 games, 183 runs with a fifty -- his maiden IPL half-century -- and a match-finishing 40 not out in a moderate run-chase versus defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recently. Thus, Ashwin is having a ball in IPL 2022 and looks set to continue in a similar stead for the inaugural champions in the playoffs. Ahead of the knockouts, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar has backed the all-rounder Ashwin to feature in India's T20 World Cup squad later this year. For the unversed, he was also a part of India's scheme of things in last year's T20 WC. Back then, he had staged a combeack in limited-overs after a four-year hiatus based on his impressive run in IPL 2021. ALSO READ | India vs SA T20Is: Former Indian opener snubs Dinesh Karthik in his probable XI for KL Rahul & Co. “I think he wanted to show he can bat anywhere. He started his career as an opening batsman, not at the first-class level may be, but at the club level. Now he has become one of the greatest spinners in the game," Gavaskar told Star Sports. "And he also knows that he is a batsman who has got five Test hundreds. So he can bat, he knows that. He has now shown that he can do it in the ultra-short format and be in the Indian team for the World Cup in Australia. That is his aim and that is why he is so excited about his own batting performance. He's showing with the ball and with the bat that ‘Hello! Pick me’," Gavaskar added. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 playoffs: All you need to know about schedule, timings and venues Ashwin-starrer RR have a serious chance of lifting their first IPL title after 14 years in the ongoing season. They are gearing up for Qualifier 1 where they will lock horns with the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT), who ended the league stage at the top of the points table.

'Hello! Pick me': Sunil Gavaskar backs RR star to be part of Team India squad for T20 World Cup

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced Team India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. India will take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on June 09 after the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

While senior players like Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah were rested from the T20I series, several youngsters also made the cut in the squad owing to their impressive performances in IPL 2022. Young pacers Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh were handed their maiden call ups for the T20I series.

Among the biggest talking points from the squad announcement was the return of Dinesh Karthik to the Indian squad after a gap of three years. Karthik last featured for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup in England and has managed to make his comeback to&nbsp;the team owing to his finishing exploits for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022.

Besides Karthik, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya also made his comeback after a long layoff while the likes of Ishan Kishan and Venkatesh Iyer were selected despite average performances from the duo this season. The likes of Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi and Shikhar Dhawan were among the notable exclusions from the squad.

Former India batter Suresh Raina questioned Dhawan's absence from the squad despite the veteran batter's prolific run in the ongoing season. Dhawan finished as the highest run-getter for Punjab Kings this season amassing 460 runs in 14 games at an average of&nbsp;&nbsp;38.33 and a strike rate of over 122.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-umran-malik-make-his-india-debut-against-south-africa-former-head-coach-ravi-shastri-gives-his-take-481473">Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa?&nbsp;Ravi Shastri gives his take</a>

Raina believes Dhawan also deserved a spot in India's T20I squad if Karthik was picked after his performances this season. The former India batter said Dhawan must be sad over his non-selection as he has been scoring runs consistently for the last few seasons.

"Obviously, Shikhar would have been disappointed. Every captain wants a player like him in the team. He is fun loving person who brightens up the environment. And he has always scored runs - be it domestic, international or T20," Raina said on Star Sports.

"If you've brought Dinesh Karthik back in the team, Shikhar Dhawan deserved a place too. He has performed runs the last 3-4 years and has scored runs non-stop. Somewhere deep down, he must be sad," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ive-only-seen-zaheer-nehra-do-that-during-my-time-virender-sehwag-lavishes-praise-on-punjab-pacer-481437">'I've only seen Zaheer, Nehra do that during my time' - Virender Sehwag lavishes praise on Punjab pacer</a>

Dhawan had lost his opening slot to KL Rahul in both ODIs and T20Is before the emergence of the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan ensured he didn't get a chance to make his comeback in the team despite his purple patch in the IPL. Kishan, Rahul and Gaikwad are the three openers India have selected for the T20I series against South Africa.

&nbsp;

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced Team India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. India will take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on June 09 after the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced Team India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. India will take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on June 09 after the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. While senior players like Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah were rested from the T20I series, several youngsters also made the cut in the squad owing to their impressive performances in IPL 2022. Young pacers Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh were handed their maiden call ups for the T20I series. Among the biggest talking points from the squad announcement was the return of Dinesh Karthik to the Indian squad after a gap of three years. Karthik last featured for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup in England and has managed to make his comeback to the team owing to his finishing exploits for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022. Besides Karthik, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya also made his comeback after a long layoff while the likes of Ishan Kishan and Venkatesh Iyer were selected despite average performances from the duo this season. The likes of Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi and Shikhar Dhawan were among the notable exclusions from the squad. Former India batter Suresh Raina questioned Dhawan's absence from the squad despite the veteran batter's prolific run in the ongoing season. Dhawan finished as the highest run-getter for Punjab Kings this season amassing 460 runs in 14 games at an average of 38.33 and a strike rate of over 122. Also Read: Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa? Ravi Shastri gives his take Raina believes Dhawan also deserved a spot in India's T20I squad if Karthik was picked after his performances this season. The former India batter said Dhawan must be sad over his non-selection as he has been scoring runs consistently for the last few seasons. "Obviously, Shikhar would have been disappointed. Every captain wants a player like him in the team. He is fun loving person who brightens up the environment. And he has always scored runs - be it domestic, international or T20," Raina said on Star Sports. "If you've brought Dinesh Karthik back in the team, Shikhar Dhawan deserved a place too. He has performed runs the last 3-4 years and has scored runs non-stop. Somewhere deep down, he must be sad," he added. Also Read: 'I've only seen Zaheer, Nehra do that during my time' - Virender Sehwag lavishes praise on Punjab pacer Dhawan had lost his opening slot to KL Rahul in both ODIs and T20Is before the emergence of the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan ensured he didn't get a chance to make his comeback in the team despite his purple patch in the IPL. Kishan, Rahul and Gaikwad are the three openers India have selected for the T20I series against South Africa.

'If you've brought Karthik in..': Suresh Raina questions veteran batter's exclusion from India's T20I squad

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik earned his dream maiden call up to the Indian team on Sunday (May 22) as the selectors announced India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. Malik enjoyed an impressive campaign for SRH in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and has also been deemed one of the finds of the tournament.

The 21-year-old fast bowler has been consistently clocking over 150 kmph with the ball and has impressed with his raw pace. He was on the selectors' radar ahead of the squad announcement and has been rewarded for his bowling exploits in IPL 2022. Umran is among a host of players who have made the cut in India's squad on the back of their brilliant show in IPL this season.

While he has been fast-tracked into the Indian team for the South Africa ODI series, it remains to be seen if Umran will make the cut in India's playing XI for the first T20I against the Proteas directly. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently shared his views on the chances of Umran's inclusion straightway in India's playing XI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-t20-challenge-complete-schedule-timings-live-streaming-details-and-squads-481432">Women's T20 Challenge: Complete schedule, timings, live streaming details and squads</a>

Shastri believes going by his current form Umran deserves to be included in the playing XI for the series opener between India and South Africa which will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on June 09.&nbsp;

"On current form, they might just play (him). If he is bowling well in the nets, doing the right things, they will unleash him at the earliest against South Africa. His (Umran) association with the team is the absolute right thing because at least he can be groomed properly," Shastri said on ESPNCricinfo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-lot-of-people-had-given-up-on-me-dinesh-karthik-reacts-after-his-memorable-team-india-comeback-481413">'A lot of people had given up on me' - Dinesh Karthik reacts after his memorable Team India comeback</a>

Umran made his IPL debut for SRH last season but did enough to impress the team management as he was retained ahead of the mega auction this year. He featured in all 14 matches for the franchise this season and finished the season as the highest wicket-taker for the Kane Williamson-led side with 22 wickets in 14 matches.

However, Umran's bowling heroics failed to inspire SRH to the playoffs as Williamson &amp; Co. could only manage 12 points in 14 matches in IPL 2022.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik earned his dream maiden call up to the Indian team on Sunday (May 22) as the selectors announced India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Umran Malik earned his dream maiden call up to the Indian team on Sunday (May 22) as the selectors announced India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. Malik enjoyed an impressive campaign for SRH in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and has also been deemed one of the finds of the tournament. The 21-year-old fast bowler has been consistently clocking over 150 kmph with the ball and has impressed with his raw pace. He was on the selectors' radar ahead of the squad announcement and has been rewarded for his bowling exploits in IPL 2022. Umran is among a host of players who have made the cut in India's squad on the back of their brilliant show in IPL this season. While he has been fast-tracked into the Indian team for the South Africa ODI series, it remains to be seen if Umran will make the cut in India's playing XI for the first T20I against the Proteas directly. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently shared his views on the chances of Umran's inclusion straightway in India's playing XI. Also Read: Women's T20 Challenge: Complete schedule, timings, live streaming details and squads Shastri believes going by his current form Umran deserves to be included in the playing XI for the series opener between India and South Africa which will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on June 09. "On current form, they might just play (him). If he is bowling well in the nets, doing the right things, they will unleash him at the earliest against South Africa. His (Umran) association with the team is the absolute right thing because at least he can be groomed properly," Shastri said on ESPNCricinfo. Also Read: 'A lot of people had given up on me' - Dinesh Karthik reacts after his memorable Team India comeback Umran made his IPL debut for SRH last season but did enough to impress the team management as he was retained ahead of the mega auction this year. He featured in all 14 matches for the franchise this season and finished the season as the highest wicket-taker for the Kane Williamson-led side with 22 wickets in 14 matches. However, Umran's bowling heroics failed to inspire SRH to the playoffs as Williamson & Co. could only manage 12 points in 14 matches in IPL 2022.

Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa? Former head coach Ravi Shastri gives his take

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting from June 09. While the big guns such as regular captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, KL Rahul will lead the line-up, which also sees the comeback of Dinesh Karthik.

Karthik, who had donned the commentator's hat last year, has seen his career getting revived in IPL 2022, where he is representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Karthik got a new lease of life at the RCB, where he has made heads turn being a fantastic finisher for the three-time runners-up and rescuing them from several precarious situations. In 14 games, Karthik has amassed 287 runs&nbsp;at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 191.

Thus, Karthik's IPL 15 knocks have helped him make a comeback in Team India setup. In a video shared by RCB, the veteran keeper-batter thanked Bengaluru's top brass&nbsp;Sanjay Bangar, Mike Hesson and Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for instilling faith on him.

"Very happy. Very very very satisfying. I must say this has been my most memorable comeback because a lot of people had given up on me and for me to do what I did, practice with the way I did with my coach Nayar. So many special things in the lead to the auction and how I practiced post that. I lot of credit also to Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson. The clarity that they gave me to execute the role that I wanted to, in many ways I am indebted to RCB for picking me and believing in me," said Karthik who was roped in by the francse&nbsp;for 5.50 crore at IPL mega auction.

"A lot of credit must go to the selectors, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid because these days with so many young boys putting their names for selection, to see the skillset that is there and then to believe that this is the guy we need for the World Cup, it is a very very humbling feeling. I know the journey is still there to the World Cup but to be a part of the scheme of things and giving me an opportunity to showcase my skills and I am very proud of it," Karthik added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-rested-as-india-announce-squad-for-t20i-series-against-south-africa-481249">Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma rested as India announce squad for T20I series against South Africa</a>

"I started believing but people around me gave me a feeling saying I should not dream too much. I took up the role of a commentator and that made it look like I am no more interested in trying to come back to the Indian team but I have always said that for me, playing for the Indian team is the priority, because I had time I did it. I am very excited overall," he signed off.

India's T20I squad for South Africa series -&nbsp;KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting from June 09.

On Sunday (May 22), the BCCI selection committee announced an 18-member Team India squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series versus South Africa, starting from June 09. While the big guns such as regular captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested, KL Rahul will lead the line-up, which also sees the comeback of Dinesh Karthik. Karthik, who had donned the commentator's hat last year, has seen his career getting revived in IPL 2022, where he is representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Karthik got a new lease of life at the RCB, where he has made heads turn being a fantastic finisher for the three-time runners-up and rescuing them from several precarious situations. In 14 games, Karthik has amassed 287 runs at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 191. Thus, Karthik's IPL 15 knocks have helped him make a comeback in Team India setup. In a video shared by RCB, the veteran keeper-batter thanked Bengaluru's top brass Sanjay Bangar, Mike Hesson and Indian captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for instilling faith on him. "Very happy. Very very very satisfying. I must say this has been my most memorable comeback because a lot of people had given up on me and for me to do what I did, practice with the way I did with my coach Nayar. So many special things in the lead to the auction and how I practiced post that. I lot of credit also to Sanjay Bangar and Mike Hesson. The clarity that they gave me to execute the role that I wanted to, in many ways I am indebted to RCB for picking me and believing in me," said Karthik who was roped in by the francse for 5.50 crore at IPL mega auction. "A lot of credit must go to the selectors, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid because these days with so many young boys putting their names for selection, to see the skillset that is there and then to believe that this is the guy we need for the World Cup, it is a very very humbling feeling. I know the journey is still there to the World Cup but to be a part of the scheme of things and giving me an opportunity to showcase my skills and I am very proud of it," Karthik added. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma rested as India announce squad for T20I series against South Africa "I started believing but people around me gave me a feeling saying I should not dream too much. I took up the role of a commentator and that made it look like I am no more interested in trying to come back to the Indian team but I have always said that for me, playing for the Indian team is the priority, because I had time I did it. I am very excited overall," he signed off. India's T20I squad for South Africa series - KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

'A lot of people had given up on me' - Dinesh Karthik reacts after his memorable Team India comeback

Emerging stars like Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan could be rewarded for their IPL performances while old-horses Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik are likely to return to the T20 set-up when the India squad is picked for the home series against South Africa on Sunday.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has not played for India since the T20 World Cup last year, has shown form and fitness in the IPL and is set to be included in the squad for the five-game series beginning June 9. He is finally back to bowling regularly, which was critical in his national comeback bid.

After a two-month-long IPL and with the Test team due to depart for England on June 15, some of the all-format players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah could be rested for the home series. 
A similar squad is also expected to be picked for the two T20s in Ireland later in June.

If that is the case, the captaincy responsibility could go to either Dhawan, who led in Sri Lanka last year, or Hardik who has impressed as a leader in his debut season for Gujarat Titans. The IPL continues to unearth future stars and this season has been no different.

While Umran impressed with his raw pace for the Sunrisers, left-arm pacer Mohsin, has stood out both for his speed and accuracy. As his Lucknow Super Giants skipper K L Rahul said left-arm pacers are always in demand at the highest level, Mohsin could get his big break on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-torments-delhi-capitals-becomes-1st-indian-to-achieve-staggering-feat-in-ipl-481152">Jasprit Bumrah torments Delhi Capitals, becomes 1st Indian to achieve staggering feat in IPL</a>

Another left-arm pacer in the reckoning is Arshdeep Singh, who once again had a good season for Punjab. He had one of the best economy rates in the death overs and displayed the ability of landing yorkers at will, which is always welcome in an unforgiving format like the T20.

In the batting department, Tilak Verma showed a lot of promise in his maiden IPL season and might get a look in for the South Africa series, considering his Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, who is also the India captain, had reserved high praise for the left-hander.

The likes of Deepak Hooda and Venkatesh Iyer were tried in the middle-order over the West Indies and Sri Lanka series and it remains to be seen, if either of them retains his place or if selectors give preference to IPL form.

Dinesh Karthik, who has made a strong case for the finisher's role with his exploits for RCB, is also expected to make his umpteenth comeback in the Indian team.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thank-you-mumbai-kohli-du-plessis-others-go-berserk-as-mi-help-rcb-qualify-for-ipl-2022-playoffs-watch-481132">'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis &amp; others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for IPL 2022 playoffs - WATCH</a>

Rahul Tewatia, who has finished games for Gujarat from improbable situations this season, can also be given an opportunity in that position. The form of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has also attracted a lot of attention, potentially making way for the return of 'Kulcha'.

It is still early days in a T20 World Cup year but the South Africa series should give the team management enough idea to decide its core group of players for the ICC event Down Under in October-November.&nbsp;

Emerging stars like Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan could be rewarded for their IPL performances while old-horses Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik are likely to return to the T20 set-up when the India squad is picked for the home series against South Africa on Sunday.

Emerging stars like Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan could be rewarded for their IPL performances while old-horses Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik are likely to return to the T20 set-up when the India squad is picked for the home series against South Africa on Sunday. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has not played for India since the T20 World Cup last year, has shown form and fitness in the IPL and is set to be included in the squad for the five-game series beginning June 9. He is finally back to bowling regularly, which was critical in his national comeback bid. After a two-month-long IPL and with the Test team due to depart for England on June 15, some of the all-format players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah could be rested for the home series. A similar squad is also expected to be picked for the two T20s in Ireland later in June. If that is the case, the captaincy responsibility could go to either Dhawan, who led in Sri Lanka last year, or Hardik who has impressed as a leader in his debut season for Gujarat Titans. The IPL continues to unearth future stars and this season has been no different. While Umran impressed with his raw pace for the Sunrisers, left-arm pacer Mohsin, has stood out both for his speed and accuracy. As his Lucknow Super Giants skipper K L Rahul said left-arm pacers are always in demand at the highest level, Mohsin could get his big break on Sunday. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah torments Delhi Capitals, becomes 1st Indian to achieve staggering feat in IPL Another left-arm pacer in the reckoning is Arshdeep Singh, who once again had a good season for Punjab. He had one of the best economy rates in the death overs and displayed the ability of landing yorkers at will, which is always welcome in an unforgiving format like the T20. In the batting department, Tilak Verma showed a lot of promise in his maiden IPL season and might get a look in for the South Africa series, considering his Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, who is also the India captain, had reserved high praise for the left-hander. The likes of Deepak Hooda and Venkatesh Iyer were tried in the middle-order over the West Indies and Sri Lanka series and it remains to be seen, if either of them retains his place or if selectors give preference to IPL form. Dinesh Karthik, who has made a strong case for the finisher's role with his exploits for RCB, is also expected to make his umpteenth comeback in the Indian team. Also Read: 'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis & others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for IPL 2022 playoffs - WATCH Rahul Tewatia, who has finished games for Gujarat from improbable situations this season, can also be given an opportunity in that position. The form of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has also attracted a lot of attention, potentially making way for the return of 'Kulcha'. It is still early days in a T20 World Cup year but the South Africa series should give the team management enough idea to decide its core group of players for the ICC event Down Under in October-November.

Umran Malik, Mohsin Khan and Dinesh Karthik likely to be picked in India's squad for South Africa T20 series

Cheteshwar Pujara made a well-deserved comeback to the Indian cricket team squad for the rescheduled 5th Test against England, which will be played in Birmingham in the first week of July.

Pujara earned his place back in the squad after a host of strong performances for Sussex in County Championship Division 2 including two double centuries.

Even the wicketkeeping department saw some development as KS Bharat has been named as backup to first-team Rishabh Pant. The rest of the squad, though, is more on similar lines with Rohit Sharma leading the team. KL Rahul was appointed his deputy as the top order remains similar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/huge-blunder-rishabh-pant-decides-not-to-review-after-tim-david-edges-delivery-from-shardul-thakur-watch-481135" hreflang="en">Pant decides not to review after David edges delivery from Shardul - WATCH</a>

The pace-bowling consists of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja taking care of the spin options.

Prasidh Krishna is the new face in the bowling attack after a good showing in IPL 2022.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/google-doodle-celebrates-gama-pehlwan-everything-you-need-to-know-about-indias-legendary-wrestler-481238" hreflang="en">Google Doodle celebrates Gama Pehlwan - Everything you need to know</a>

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have enjoyed a good outing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and it will not come as a surprise if one of them can find a place in the playing XI. Gill had a good show in England earlier and a return can be one on the cards for the youngster.

Indian cricket team Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna

Cheteshwar Pujara made a well-deserved comeback to the Indian cricket team squad for the rescheduled 5th Test against England, which will be played in Birmingham in the first week of July.

Cheteshwar Pujara made a well-deserved comeback to the Indian cricket team squad for the rescheduled 5th Test against England, which will be played in Birmingham in the first week of July. Pujara earned his place back in the squad after a host of strong performances for Sussex in County Championship Division 2 including two double centuries. Even the wicketkeeping department saw some development as KS Bharat has been named as backup to first-team Rishabh Pant. The rest of the squad, though, is more on similar lines with Rohit Sharma leading the team. KL Rahul was appointed his deputy as the top order remains similar. Also read | Pant decides not to review after David edges delivery from Shardul - WATCH The pace-bowling consists of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja taking care of the spin options. Prasidh Krishna is the new face in the bowling attack after a good showing in IPL 2022. Also read | Google Doodle celebrates Gama Pehlwan - Everything you need to know Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have enjoyed a good outing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and it will not come as a surprise if one of them can find a place in the playing XI. Gill had a good show in England earlier and a return can be one on the cards for the youngster. Indian cricket team Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Prasidh Krishna

Cheteshwar Pujara returns as selectors announce India's squad for one-off Test against England

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa on Sunday (May 22). A number of senior players have been rested from the series which will be played following the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah have all been rested from the T20I series and will be travelling to England for the one-off Test against the hosts. In Rohit's absence, KL Rahul has been appointed as the captain of the Indian team for the T20I series against the Proteas.

While the senior players have been rested, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback post a big layoff following India's disappointing show at the T20 World Cup 2021 last year. Hardik has been excellent as captain for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 and has also started bowling regularly which made his return to the team inevitable.

Apart from Hardik, veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik will also be making his comeback for the Indian team for the first time since 2019. Karthik has been in the form of his life for RCB this season and has played numerous finishing cameos for his team to earn a recall to India's T20I squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/thank-you-mumbai-kohli-du-plessis-others-go-berserk-as-mi-help-rcb-qualify-for-ipl-2022-playoffs-watch-481132">'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis &amp; others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for&nbsp;playoffs - WATCH</a>

Maiden call up&nbsp;for Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh

Umran Malik has been one of the finds of IPL 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) speedster has impressed many with his raw pace and ability to trouble the best of the batters. Umran has been consistently clocking over 150 kmph this season and also holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery in IPL 2022.

He was touted by many to make the cut in India's squad for the South Africa T20Is and has deservingly made the cut along with Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has also been impressive throughout the season. The left-arm fast bowler has been excellent in death and has been garnering praise with his performances in the IPL&nbsp;for quite some time now.

While Umran has 21 wickets in 13 matches for SRH this season, Arshdeep has managed 10 wickets in 13 games for Punjab Kings so far this season. There were reports that Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mohsin Khan can also be in the fray for selection after his impressive show but he has not been picked by the Chetan Sharma-led selection panel.

Along with skipper Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan are the other two openers in the side. Hardik and Venkatesh Iyer are the all-rounders along with in-form Deepak Hooda, who has been among the runs for Lucknow in IPL 2022. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will spearhead the pace attack and will have the likes of Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Umran and Arshdeep for support in the absence of Bumrah.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-torments-delhi-capitals-becomes-1st-indian-to-achieve-staggering-feat-in-ipl-481152">Jasprit Bumrah torments Delhi Capitals, becomes 1st Indian to achieve staggering feat in IPL</a>

India's T20I squad for South Africa series -&nbsp;KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa on Sunday (May 22). A number of senior players have been rested from the series which will be played following the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Team India's squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa on Sunday (May 22). A number of senior players have been rested from the series which will be played following the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah have all been rested from the T20I series and will be travelling to England for the one-off Test against the hosts. In Rohit's absence, KL Rahul has been appointed as the captain of the Indian team for the T20I series against the Proteas. While the senior players have been rested, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to make his comeback post a big layoff following India's disappointing show at the T20 World Cup 2021 last year. Hardik has been excellent as captain for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 and has also started bowling regularly which made his return to the team inevitable. Apart from Hardik, veteran wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik will also be making his comeback for the Indian team for the first time since 2019. Karthik has been in the form of his life for RCB this season and has played numerous finishing cameos for his team to earn a recall to India's T20I squad. Also Read: 'Thank you Mumbai': Kohli, Du Plessis & others go berserk as MI help RCB qualify for playoffs - WATCH Maiden call up for Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh Umran Malik has been one of the finds of IPL 2022. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) speedster has impressed many with his raw pace and ability to trouble the best of the batters. Umran has been consistently clocking over 150 kmph this season and also holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery in IPL 2022. He was touted by many to make the cut in India's squad for the South Africa T20Is and has deservingly made the cut along with Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has also been impressive throughout the season. The left-arm fast bowler has been excellent in death and has been garnering praise with his performances in the IPL for quite some time now. While Umran has 21 wickets in 13 matches for SRH this season, Arshdeep has managed 10 wickets in 13 games for Punjab Kings so far this season. There were reports that Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mohsin Khan can also be in the fray for selection after his impressive show but he has not been picked by the Chetan Sharma-led selection panel. Along with skipper Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan are the other two openers in the side. Hardik and Venkatesh Iyer are the all-rounders along with in-form Deepak Hooda, who has been among the runs for Lucknow in IPL 2022. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will spearhead the pace attack and will have the likes of Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Umran and Arshdeep for support in the absence of Bumrah. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah torments Delhi Capitals, becomes 1st Indian to achieve staggering feat in IPL India's T20I squad for South Africa series - KL Rahul (Capt), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(VC) (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Y Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma rested as India announce squad for T20I series against South Africa

Former India captain Virat Kohli has hinted at taking a break from international cricket post the conclusion of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli was expected to deliver with the bat consistently this season after stepping down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

However, his struggles with the bat continued this season as Kohli found it difficult to get going even after being promoted to open the batting. Amid his rough patch with the willow, many former cricketers and experts, including former India head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested Kohli should take a break to revitalise and bounce back strongly.

Kohli recently opened up on the prospects of taking a break from the game and hinted that he is open to the idea but will have to first speak to India head coach Rahul Dravid and the team management to decide the way going forward. On Shastri's suggestion, Kohli said the former India head coach spoke about the break as he has closely seen Kohli play consistently for a number of years without taking adequate rest.

“There’s one person precisely who has mentioned it which is Ravi bhai and that’s because he has seen from close quarters over the last six-seven years the reality of the situation that I have been in. The amount of cricket that I have played and the ups and downs and the toll that it takes on you to play three formats of the game plus the IPL for 10-11 years non-stop with the seven years of captaincy in between,” Kohli told Star Sports.

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Kohli stressed the importance of rejuvenating himself with a break and said it will be a healthy decision but the timing of it will be important for both him and the Indian cricket team.

“So to take a break and when to take a break is obviously something that I need to take a call on, but it is only a healthy decision for anyone to take some time off and just rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically," said the superstar batter.

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Kohli is likely to be rested for India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. The former India captain said he will be speaking to head coach Dravid and the team management before taking a call on enjoying a break from the game.

“It’s only a matter of creating a balance and finding that balance which is right for you as an individual moving forward and I will definitely discuss this with all the people involved – Rahul bhai, the Indian team management – everyone to chart out whatever is best for myself and for the team definitely," said Kohli.

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Former India captain Virat Kohli has hinted at taking a break from international cricket post the conclusion of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Former India captain Virat Kohli has hinted at taking a break from international cricket post the conclusion of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli was expected to deliver with the bat consistently this season after stepping down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, his struggles with the bat continued this season as Kohli found it difficult to get going even after being promoted to open the batting. Amid his rough patch with the willow, many former cricketers and experts, including former India head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested Kohli should take a break to revitalise and bounce back strongly. Kohli recently opened up on the prospects of taking a break from the game and hinted that he is open to the idea but will have to first speak to India head coach Rahul Dravid and the team management to decide the way going forward. On Shastri's suggestion, Kohli said the former India head coach spoke about the break as he has closely seen Kohli play consistently for a number of years without taking adequate rest. “There’s one person precisely who has mentioned it which is Ravi bhai and that’s because he has seen from close quarters over the last six-seven years the reality of the situation that I have been in. The amount of cricket that I have played and the ups and downs and the toll that it takes on you to play three formats of the game plus the IPL for 10-11 years non-stop with the seven years of captaincy in between,” Kohli told Star Sports. Also Read: MS Dhoni confirms participation in IPL 2023, says 'will be unfair to not say thank you to Chennai' Kohli stressed the importance of rejuvenating himself with a break and said it will be a healthy decision but the timing of it will be important for both him and the Indian cricket team. “So to take a break and when to take a break is obviously something that I need to take a call on, but it is only a healthy decision for anyone to take some time off and just rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically," said the superstar batter. Also Read: 'Pathetic comment': Sunil Gavaskar slammed for distasteful remark on Shimron Hetmyer and his wife Kohli is likely to be rested for India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa at home. The former India captain said he will be speaking to head coach Dravid and the team management before taking a call on enjoying a break from the game. “It’s only a matter of creating a balance and finding that balance which is right for you as an individual moving forward and I will definitely discuss this with all the people involved – Rahul bhai, the Indian team management – everyone to chart out whatever is best for myself and for the team definitely," said Kohli.

Virat Kohli hints at taking a break from cricket amid poor form, will talk to India head coach Rahul Dravid

Many had their doubts over Rishabh Pant and whether he would be able to replace MS Dhoni across formats, after the veteran's retirement. While Pant took some time to take off in all forms of the game, the 24-year-old has now come to his own and made the wicketkeeper's slot his own in every format.

Filling in for Dhoni can never be easy for anyone, be it in IPL or for Team India, however, Pant is slowly making his own identity as an explosive middle-order batter for the national side (and also for his IPL franchise, i.e. the Delhi Capitals). Ahead of India's next assignment, which will be a five-match T20I series at home versus South Africa in early June, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag feels Pant can be more successful as an opener.

Sehwag told&nbsp;Sports 18, "We don’t play limited-overs to score 50 or 100 but to score at a brisk pace, no matter the situation or the opposition,” Sehwag told Sports 18, “At no. 4 or 5, he will find himself in situations that demand greater responsibility, but if he opens, he will be far more successful."

Pant has 1,920 runs in 30 Tests and has been more successful in whites. In limited-overs, he has 715 and 683 runs in ODIs and T20Is, respectively.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/prithvi-shaw-rishabh-pant-can-help-india-rule-test-cricket-and-win-world-test-championship-virender-sehwag-480705">Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant can help India rule Test cricket and win World Test Championship: Virender Sehwag</a>

Sehwag also opined that Prithvi Shaw and Pant will form a daunting par for India in Tests and can help the team dominate the red-ball format. In this regard, he stated, "He (Prithvi Shaw) is a player who can bring back the excitement in Test cricket." Sehwag added, "Opposition will have to think if 400 would be enough with Shaw and Pant in our ranks. Shaw and Pant in one team could help India rule Test cricket and win the World Test Championship."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricketers-must-ensure-harmony-between-india-pakistan-akhtar-on-sehwags-chucking-allegations-480737">'Cricketers must ensure harmony between India-Pakistan' - Akhtar on Sehwag's 'chucking' allegation</a>

Currently, Pant and Shaw are part of the DC franchise in the IPL 2022 edition. Pant &amp; Co. are alive in the playoffs race and need to win against Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last league stage encounter to confirm a spot in the playoffs.&nbsp;

Many had their doubts over Rishabh Pant and whether he would be able to replace MS Dhoni across formats, after the veteran's retirement. While Pant took some time to take off in all forms of the game, the 24-year-old has now come to his own and made the wicketkeeper's slot his own in every format.

Many had their doubts over Rishabh Pant and whether he would be able to replace MS Dhoni across formats, after the veteran's retirement. While Pant took some time to take off in all forms of the game, the 24-year-old has now come to his own and made the wicketkeeper's slot his own in every format. Filling in for Dhoni can never be easy for anyone, be it in IPL or for Team India, however, Pant is slowly making his own identity as an explosive middle-order batter for the national side (and also for his IPL franchise, i.e. the Delhi Capitals). Ahead of India's next assignment, which will be a five-match T20I series at home versus South Africa in early June, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag feels Pant can be more successful as an opener. Sehwag told Sports 18, "We don’t play limited-overs to score 50 or 100 but to score at a brisk pace, no matter the situation or the opposition,” Sehwag told Sports 18, “At no. 4 or 5, he will find himself in situations that demand greater responsibility, but if he opens, he will be far more successful." Pant has 1,920 runs in 30 Tests and has been more successful in whites. In limited-overs, he has 715 and 683 runs in ODIs and T20Is, respectively. ALSO READ | Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant can help India rule Test cricket and win World Test Championship: Virender Sehwag Sehwag also opined that Prithvi Shaw and Pant will form a daunting par for India in Tests and can help the team dominate the red-ball format. In this regard, he stated, "He (Prithvi Shaw) is a player who can bring back the excitement in Test cricket." Sehwag added, "Opposition will have to think if 400 would be enough with Shaw and Pant in our ranks. Shaw and Pant in one team could help India rule Test cricket and win the World Test Championship." ALSO READ | 'Cricketers must ensure harmony between India-Pakistan' - Akhtar on Sehwag's 'chucking' allegation Currently, Pant and Shaw are part of the DC franchise in the IPL 2022 edition. Pant & Co. are alive in the playoffs race and need to win against Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last league stage encounter to confirm a spot in the playoffs.

'If he opens, he'll be more successful: Virender Sehwag rates Rishabh Pant's chances as Team India opener

Virat Kohli remains the talk of the cricketing fraternity despite his dismal run in IPL 2022. So far, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain has amassed only&nbsp;236 runs at an average of&nbsp;19.67 and a poor strike rate of&nbsp;113.46 with a solitary fifty under his belt.

While a lot has been said and written about Kohli and how he should take a break in order to rediscover his form and comeback motivated as ever for Team India, the 33-year-old recently opened up on the prospect of taking a breather from cricket and spoke about his goals for the national side.

"I know how motivated I will be when the scores start coming," Kohli told Star Sports. "I want to win India the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup; that's the motivation."

"I have to move forward maintaining a balance, get some rest, some rejuvenation, once I'm in the mindset then there's no looking back and... it's great fun. My main aim is to help India win the Asia Cup and the World Cup and for that I am ready to do anything for the team," he told former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh in a chat for Star Sports.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sourav-ganguly-built-a-new-team-doubt-if-virat-kohli-did-the-same-as-captain-says-virender-sehwag-480429">Sourav Ganguly built a new team, doubt if Virat Kohli did the same as captain, says Virender Sehwag</a>

While Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen and many others have called for Kohli to take a break from the cricketing activities, the latter opened up in this regard and said, "It's not a lot of people who mentioned it. There is one person precisely who has mentioned it which is Ravi bhai and that's because he has seen from close quarters over the last six-seven years the reality of the situation that I have been in."

"The amount of cricket that I have played and the ups and downs and the toll that it takes on you to play three formats of the game plus the IPL for 10-11 years non-stop with the seven years of captaincy in between," he opined.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-virat-kohli-on-verge-of-achieving-major-milestone-as-rcb-face-gt-in-a-must-win-tie-480386">IPL 2022: Virat Kohli on verge of achieving major milestone as RCB face GT in a must-win tie</a>

"It is definitely a thing that one needs to consider because you don't want to do something which you are not a part of 100% and I have always believed in that in my life. So, to take a break and when to take a break is obviously something that I need to take a call on, but it is only a healthy decision for anyone to take some time off and just rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically.

"Not so much physically because physical fitness you keep up with through the course of playing cricket all the time, but it is a mental kind of reset that you need, and you want to be excited for what you are doing. You don't want to feel like you have been forcing yourself into any situation," Kohli added.

With India's T20I squad to be announced for the forthcoming South Africa series, from June 09, it seems Kohli will get a break and will likely return to action for the fifth and final Test versus England, in early July.

Virat Kohli remains the talk of the cricketing fraternity despite his dismal run in IPL 2022. So far, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain has amassed only 236 runs at an average of 19.

Virat Kohli remains the talk of the cricketing fraternity despite his dismal run in IPL 2022. So far, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain has amassed only 236 runs at an average of 19.67 and a poor strike rate of 113.46 with a solitary fifty under his belt. While a lot has been said and written about Kohli and how he should take a break in order to rediscover his form and comeback motivated as ever for Team India, the 33-year-old recently opened up on the prospect of taking a breather from cricket and spoke about his goals for the national side. "I know how motivated I will be when the scores start coming," Kohli told Star Sports. "I want to win India the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup; that's the motivation." "I have to move forward maintaining a balance, get some rest, some rejuvenation, once I'm in the mindset then there's no looking back and... it's great fun. My main aim is to help India win the Asia Cup and the World Cup and for that I am ready to do anything for the team," he told former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh in a chat for Star Sports. ALSO READ | Sourav Ganguly built a new team, doubt if Virat Kohli did the same as captain, says Virender Sehwag While Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen and many others have called for Kohli to take a break from the cricketing activities, the latter opened up in this regard and said, "It's not a lot of people who mentioned it. There is one person precisely who has mentioned it which is Ravi bhai and that's because he has seen from close quarters over the last six-seven years the reality of the situation that I have been in." "The amount of cricket that I have played and the ups and downs and the toll that it takes on you to play three formats of the game plus the IPL for 10-11 years non-stop with the seven years of captaincy in between," he opined. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Virat Kohli on verge of achieving major milestone as RCB face GT in a must-win tie "It is definitely a thing that one needs to consider because you don't want to do something which you are not a part of 100% and I have always believed in that in my life. So, to take a break and when to take a break is obviously something that I need to take a call on, but it is only a healthy decision for anyone to take some time off and just rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically. "Not so much physically because physical fitness you keep up with through the course of playing cricket all the time, but it is a mental kind of reset that you need, and you want to be excited for what you are doing. You don't want to feel like you have been forcing yourself into any situation," Kohli added. With India's T20I squad to be announced for the forthcoming South Africa series, from June 09, it seems Kohli will get a break and will likely return to action for the fifth and final Test versus England, in early July.

I want to win India the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, says former skipper Virat Kohli

Since the 2000s, Indian men's cricket has been blessed with some brilliant captains which have led to the national side's resounding success. While Sourav Ganguly had to start from scratch after taking over post the match-fixing saga, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble did well for a brief period before MS Dhoni took over and later passed on the baton to Virat Kohli. Kohli recently resigned from captaincy from two formats and was sacked as an ODI skipper as Rohit Sharma has succeeded him across all forms of the game.

Every Indian captain, since the 2000s, has had unique qualities. Recently, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag compared the captaincy styles of Ganguly and Kohli and made a bold claim. Sehwag, who was also Dhoni's deputy for a long time, feels while Ganguly built a new team and backed players to the core, Kohli didn't do the same despite enjoying some good success in the skipper's role.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-virat-kohli-on-verge-of-achieving-major-milestone-as-rcb-face-gt-in-a-must-win-tie-480386">IPL 2022: Virat Kohli on verge of achieving major milestone as RCB face GT in a must-win tie</a>

“Sourav Ganguly built a new team, brought in new players and backed them through their highs and lows,” Sehwag told Sports 18. “I doubt if Kohli did that in his tenure.” He added, "In my opinion, the #1 captain is the one who builds a team and gives confidence to his players. He (Kohli) backed some players, some he did not."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nobody-would-remember-me-if-i-scored-tons-at-sachin-gangulys-pace-says-ex-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-479904">Nobody would remember me if I scored tons at Sachin, Ganguly's pace, says ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag</a>

While Kohli's numbers as a captain across formats have been very good, he failed to take India to an ICC title during his tenure from 2017-to 2021. The onus now lies with Rohit to end India's ICC title drought&nbsp;since 2013.&nbsp;

Since the 2000s, Indian men's cricket has been blessed with some brilliant captains which have led to the national side's resounding success. While Sourav Ganguly had to start from scratch after taking over post the match-fixing saga, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble did well for a brief period before MS Dhoni took over and later passed on the baton to Virat Kohli.

Since the 2000s, Indian men's cricket has been blessed with some brilliant captains which have led to the national side's resounding success. While Sourav Ganguly had to start from scratch after taking over post the match-fixing saga, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble did well for a brief period before MS Dhoni took over and later passed on the baton to Virat Kohli. Kohli recently resigned from captaincy from two formats and was sacked as an ODI skipper as Rohit Sharma has succeeded him across all forms of the game. Every Indian captain, since the 2000s, has had unique qualities. Recently, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag compared the captaincy styles of Ganguly and Kohli and made a bold claim. Sehwag, who was also Dhoni's deputy for a long time, feels while Ganguly built a new team and backed players to the core, Kohli didn't do the same despite enjoying some good success in the skipper's role. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Virat Kohli on verge of achieving major milestone as RCB face GT in a must-win tie “Sourav Ganguly built a new team, brought in new players and backed them through their highs and lows,” Sehwag told Sports 18. “I doubt if Kohli did that in his tenure.” He added, "In my opinion, the #1 captain is the one who builds a team and gives confidence to his players. He (Kohli) backed some players, some he did not." ALSO READ | Nobody would remember me if I scored tons at Sachin, Ganguly's pace, says ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag While Kohli's numbers as a captain across formats have been very good, he failed to take India to an ICC title during his tenure from 2017-to 2021. The onus now lies with Rohit to end India's ICC title drought since 2013.

Sourav Ganguly built a new team, doubt if Virat Kohli did the same as captain, says Virender Sehwag

Team India will return to action very soon after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 edition. The Rohit Sharma-led national team is set to lock horns with South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home, starting from June 09. With India also set to resume Test rivalry with England in the fifth and final match of the 2021 series, the marquee players are reportedly set to miss the SA T20Is.

Thus, Indian selectors are most likely going to announce a second-stringed side for the South Africa series, followed by a white-ball assignment versus hosts Ireland. Amid all this, the South African team recently announced a strong squad for the India T20Is, comprising regulars such as Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Lungi Ngidi, skipper Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje, etc. Despite many of them currently being a part of the IPL 2022 edition, the Proteas line-up boosts a strong squad. Thus, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has urged the national selectors to not rest India's regulars for the upcoming bilateral T20Is.

"If you were thinking that an experimental squad can be put out for this series and take June lightly before the tour of England, just think again. South Africa have tied India's hands now and will win the series if an ordinary team is put out. India have to play pretty much everyone," Chopra said on his Youtube channel.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nca-head-vvs-laxman-likely-to-don-head-coachs-hat-for-sa-ireland-series-in-rahul-dravids-absence-report-480104">NCA chief VVS Laxman likely to don head coach's hat for SA, Ireland series in Rahul Dravid's absence: Report</a>

"So, a request to the selectors, if the South African players don't need rest, then don't rest your main players either. If you take this lightly, then you will lose the series at home," Chopra added.

India have a hectic schedule once again en route the 2022 T20 World Cup. They host South Africa at home, before playing Ireland in two T20Is in their own den, an all-format tour of England which will be followed by a white-ball tour of West Indies and a home T20I series versus Australia in September.

Team India will return to action very soon after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 edition. The Rohit Sharma-led national team is set to lock horns with South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home, starting from June 09.

Team India will return to action very soon after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 edition. The Rohit Sharma-led national team is set to lock horns with South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home, starting from June 09. With India also set to resume Test rivalry with England in the fifth and final match of the 2021 series, the marquee players are reportedly set to miss the SA T20Is. Thus, Indian selectors are most likely going to announce a second-stringed side for the South Africa series, followed by a white-ball assignment versus hosts Ireland. Amid all this, the South African team recently announced a strong squad for the India T20Is, comprising regulars such as Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Lungi Ngidi, skipper Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje, etc. Despite many of them currently being a part of the IPL 2022 edition, the Proteas line-up boosts a strong squad. Thus, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has urged the national selectors to not rest India's regulars for the upcoming bilateral T20Is. "If you were thinking that an experimental squad can be put out for this series and take June lightly before the tour of England, just think again. South Africa have tied India's hands now and will win the series if an ordinary team is put out. India have to play pretty much everyone," Chopra said on his Youtube channel. ALSO READ | NCA chief VVS Laxman likely to don head coach's hat for SA, Ireland series in Rahul Dravid's absence: Report "So, a request to the selectors, if the South African players don't need rest, then don't rest your main players either. If you take this lightly, then you will lose the series at home," Chopra added. India have a hectic schedule once again en route the 2022 T20 World Cup. They host South Africa at home, before playing Ireland in two T20Is in their own den, an all-format tour of England which will be followed by a white-ball tour of West Indies and a home T20I series versus Australia in September.

'Don't rest your main players' - Former Indian opener makes special request to national selectors for SA T20Is