SA vs IND: Irfan Pathan reveals Team India’s bowling combination for the T20I series against South Africa

Team India are preparing for their upcoming project, namely the South Africa tour. The Men in Blue are set to participate in a series comprising three T20Is, three ODIs, and a two-match Test leg. The eagerly awaited tour kicks off with the T20I series on December 10, and with the exception of a few individuals, the Indian team has already landed in Durban.

As the visitors prepare for their upcoming battle against the Proteas, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has offered insights into India’s bowling combination for the T20I leg. Pathan, analyzing the 17-member Indian T20I squad, advocated for a three-pace attack while also outlining his choices for the spin department.

The three pacers dilemma

With a squad featuring four seamers and an equal number of spinners, Pathan emphasized the need for a three-pronged pace attack. Pathan singled out Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar as certainties in the pace department, highlighting their potential contributions to the team.

However, the former all-rounder faced a dilemma when it came to choosing the third pacer, deliberating between Mohammed Siraj and Deepak Chahar. Pathan ultimately sided with Siraj, citing his impressive recent performances in ODIs and advocating for a consistent run for the bowler.

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“You need to have three fast bowlers. There will be Arshdeep (Singh) for sure, Mukesh Kumar for sure, and obviously, they will have to choose between Mohammed Siraj and Deepak Chahar,” said Pathan on Star Sports.

“Mohammed Siraj is going all guns blazing. He is especially doing well in ODI cricket. Why not try him and give him a long run? You might find a guy who can nail the yorkers as well eventually and bowl a couple of good overs with the new ball. Yes, Deepak Chahar is coming back. He had a lot of injury issues as well. Going forward, you need to see guys who are fitter and stay in the team for a long time. I see these three guys going forward as well,” added Pathan.

Spin combination dynamics

Shifting the focus to the spin department, Pathan identified Ravindra Jadeja as an automatic inclusion, given his proven track record and all-round skills. Additionally, Pathan underscored the significance of Washington Sundar, emphasizing his versatility as a bowler who can effectively operate with the new ball and act as a handy batter down the order.

“Then obviously Ravindra Jadeja comes in. However, don’t forget Washington Sundar. He is the kind of cricketer who can actually be very useful because he can bowl with the new ball. If you have a left-handed option against you, he can be very handy,” Pathan added further.

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