Starting a new chapter

As India firmly embrace a transition phase, a clutch of second line stars such as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will be hoping for a breakaway series in the four T20Is against South Africa, starting with the first contest here Friday. It is imperative for them to shed the tag of sidekicks and establish themselves as the first-choice players in this format.

The recent home T20I series against Bangladesh was a precursor. Samson received a chance to open consistently against the neighbours, and he made the most of it by slamming a 47-ball 111. In the post-Rohit Sharma era in T20Is, Samson would like to further buttress his claim for a regular opening slot with a few fruitful outings against the Proteas.

This is an important series for Abhishek as well. The dashing left-hander showed his impressive skills while hammering a 47-ball hundred against Zimbabwe at Harare in July, but his other six international innings have produced 0, 10, 14, 16, 15 and 4. Abhishek will be keen to be more consistent to safeguard his place, and he will also be looking to be more penetrative with his left-arm spin.

Tilak Varma offers a similar case. The left-hander has somewhat fallen off the radar after making a solid beginning to his T20I career against West Indies in August 2023. Since then, his 12 outings in the shortest format have produced just one fifty.

This series also offers an excellent opportunity for wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma, who has slipped a few rungs in the pecking order, and spinner

Varun Chakravarthy, who impressed against Bangladesh with five wickets, to keep themselves afloat over the competition.

The selectors will also closely monitor how a new-look pace bowling unit — Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Vyshak Vijaykumar and Yash Dayal — fare against South Africa. While Arshdeep and Avesh have their moments at the top-level, Vyshak and Dayal will look to carry their success in domestic circuit and in the IPL to international cricket.

Ramandeep Singh, who was retained by Kolkata Knight Riders after a productive IPL, will be eager to replicate his success here. Ramandeep brings to the table exciting multiple skillsets — a daring batter down the order, a useful medium pacer and a brilliant outfield fielder.

With an average first-innings total 184 in the last seven T20Is, it’s a high-scoring venue. However, the weather could spoil things, with a 40 per cent chance of rain.