Qualcomm

The 24-year old Pant is leading India in the ongoing 5-match T20I series against South Africa. He was named the captain after KL Rahul, who was initially picked as the skipper, was ruled out of the series due to a groin injury. The left-handed batter had a decent IPL 2022 campaign with Delhi Capitals wherein he scored 340 runs in 14 matches but he has been struggling to get going in the ongoing T20I series, having managed just 34 runs in 3 matches.

In the first T20I in Delhi, Rassie van der Dussen had smashed Harshal for three sixes and a four in an over to turn the game around. After the match, the Proteas had said that post the first two sixes, he knew Harshal would turn to his slower balls. "People have been trying to anticipate for the past two years. To be very honest, with every bowler, the longer they play, the more the opposition will realise what their strengths are, what the patterns are, and try to adapt to it.

All rounder Hardik Pandya was on Wednesday appointed captain of the Indian cricket team for the T20I series against Ireland, set to be played later this month. The 17-member squad named by the All-India Senior Selection Committee doesn't feature India's Test team regulars who will directly fly to England to prepare for the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston, scheduled to be played from July 1.

Quickfire fifties by Ruturaj Gaikwad (57 off 35) and Ishan Kishan (54 off 35) propelled India to 179/5 in 20 overs. Apart from Gaikwad and Kishan, Hardik Pandya (31 not out off 21) gave final flourish to Indian innings, after being invited to bat first. On the other hand, Dwaine Pretorius (2/29) was most successful bowler for Proteas while Keshav Maharaj (1/24), Kagiso Rabada (1/31) and Tabraiz Shamsi (1/36) also chipped in with one wicket each.

After losing the toss, India captain Rishabh Pant said, "We would have bowled as well. But as an Indian team we are not looking at the toss too much. We are playing with same team. We spoke about getting better in execution and if we do that we will be fine. Looks like a better wicket, but feels a bit soft underneath." Meanwhile, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said, "Same team, same thing, bowl again. Feels hard, looks like a good wicket to bat. Just want to focus on the areas we can improve."

But as things stand now, after losing consecutive matches in New Delhi and Cuttack, India are in danger and under pressure of keeping themselves alive in the series when they face South Africa at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday. Rishabh Pant & Co, in the absence of many regular players, have struggled to get the wins on their side despite some positives.

After being 2-0 behind in the five-match series against South Africa, batter Shreyas Iyer insisted that India's plan of attacking with the bat throughout the innings will not be shelved, especially in a Men's T20 World Cup year, to be held in Australia in October-November this year. "We have made this plan that we will keep going no matter what happens. Even if we keep losing wickets, it's our gameplan and in the future too, we will go in with the same mindset.

South Africa restricted India to 148/6 in 20 overs despite Dinesh Karthik's late flourish (30 not out off 21 balls). Besides Karthik, Shreyas Iyer (40 off 35), Ishan Kishan (34 off 21) were the main scorers as most of the Indian batters failed to deliver against Proteas bowlers and lost wickets at regular intervals. In reply, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's magical figures of 4/13 in four overs was not enough to stop Proteas as they chased down the total with 10 balls to spare.

Ishan Kishan slammed 76 while Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya applied finishing touches to power India to a gigantic 211/4 in 20 overs against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. On a pitch where bowlers got some help, Kishan, Pant and Pandya played blistering knocks to post the highest total for India against South Africa in T20Is.

The Indian women's team will play three T20Is and as many ODIs in Dambulla and Kandy respectively during their Sri Lanka tour, beginning on June 23. Earlier in the day, Mithali announced her retirement from international cricket, following which, Harmanpreet, India's T20I captain, has taken over the reins in ODIs. Smriti Mandhana has been named as her deputy.