The Indian selectors declared the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the South African cricket team earlier today on social media. One of the biggest news stories emerging from the T20 squad was the maiden call-up that Umran Malik received. The express fast bowler wowed everyone with his pace bowling in the SunRisers Hyderabad jersey in IPL this year.
Many fans were divided as to whether the fast bowler should be picked in the Indian squad so early, but the selectors have shown faith in his skills and named him in the squad for the upcoming T20I series against the South African cricket team. Interestingly, KL Rahul will lead this team. Earlier, fans thought that Rahul might be rested along with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Both Sharma and Kohli have been rested, with Rahul set to lead the squad, and Rishabh Pant being the vice-captain. Before the announcement, reports claimed that either Shikhar Dhawan or Hardik Pandya would lead the Indian team in this series. While Hardik is a part of the squad, Dhawan’s name is not present.
Here is the full squad announced by BCCI for the series against the South African cricket team:
KL Rahul (Captain), 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.
Fans react as Umran Malik is in line to make his international debut next month
If KL Rahul and Rahul Dravid pick Malik in the playing XI for the first match against the South African cricket team, he can make his international debut on June 9. It will be exciting to see how the Jammu and Kashmir player performs in the Indian jersey. Here are some of the top Twitter reactions to his maiden international call-up:
Delighted to see Avesh, Arshdeep & Umran Malik in the squad; and to think that Khaleel & Mohsin could have made the cut too; Good that the skills of Dinesh Karthik & Bhuvi have been recognised. Going to be tough on KL Rahul & Rishabh. Thought they might go straight to the test.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 22, 2022
Maiden India call-up for Umran Malik👏#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/rOfd8sdZop
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 22, 2022
It's happening 🥹❤️🔥
— SunRisers Hyderabad Trends ™ (@TrendsSRH) May 22, 2022
Umran Malik 🧡 https://t.co/EobMAXlTRF pic.twitter.com/KElcEbzygP
🇮🇳🚨 SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT! In the KL Rahul-led Indian side for the T20Is, DK makes a comeback while Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik get their maiden call ups!
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) May 22, 2022
👀 What are your takeaways from this squad?
📸 Getty • #INDvSA #INDvsSA #klrahul #TeamIndia #BharatArmy #COTI🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/dyCqbe4J8w
Arshdeep Singh, one of the best death bowler of this IPL season. Really happy to see he got a maiden call up for India's team for the T20I Series vs South Africa. Also Umran Malik got the chance & he deserves as well for this opportunity. India's Pace battery now more stronger.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) May 22, 2022
Umran Malik receives his maiden call-up for Team India 👏💙 pic.twitter.com/4lWroVQClD
— Thyview (@Thyview) May 22, 2022
Players retained despite not a great IPL: Ruturaj, Kishan, V Iyer, Bishnoi & Avesh. (Good call 👍) Samson the only one to miss out from that SL squad.
— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) May 22, 2022
Players awarded for their IPL performance: DK,Arshdeep Singh& Umran Malik.#T20s vs #SA
Hope Umran malik will be in 11 and he will break @shoaib100mph record….#UmranMalik pic.twitter.com/z4m0fLdBvm
— VIKAS SHARMA (@vikas_samotra) May 22, 2022
Hard work always pays off💪👏 Congratulations to Dinesh Karthik and Umran Malik for selecting in the Indian T20I team for the South Africa series💪✨ #IndvsSA #TeamIndia#dineshkarthik #UmranMalik #T20Is pic.twitter.com/bVWOJPPwWl
— Ashutosh Srivastava (@kingashu1008) May 22, 2022
