India will play a three-match T20I series against South Africa from November 8. India have a packed international calendar, with two big events lined up - the ICC Champions Trophy and World Test Championship final. The main players are more focussed on the two ICC events thus India have opted to play a second-string side for the T20I series. They recently took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series and hammered the visitors 3-0.

The India squad for the South Africa series could see a few players return to the side. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been out of the team for a while but the selectors could pick him for the T20I series. Ishan Kishan is another player who could get his place back in the Indian team.

Selecting a playing XI won't be easy for the captain, with most players doing well in the opportunities they got. If Ishan Kishan is picked in the squad, he will probably open the innings with Abhishek Sharma, with Sanju Samson batting at three and Suryakumar Yadav playing at four. Nitish Reddy did well in the T20I series against Bangladesh but he might struggle to retain his place in the squad. Riyan Parag thus could play at five. The next two slots will go to Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh.

In terms of pace bowling, Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh should be the two preferred choices while Washington Sundar and Axar Patel could be the two spinners.

India's Likely XI For T20I Series vs South Africa: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh/Harshit Rana.

India Likely Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad/Tilak Verma, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav

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