Ruturaj Gaikwad was not included in the squad due to illness and Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer were rested from the second match of the five-match bilateral series. Kuldeep Yadav and Tilak Varma were chosen instead
India lost to South Africa in the second T20I at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday and are trailing by 0-1 in the five-match T20I bilateral series. Indian team selection is in question after the loss in the second match. Shubman Gill opened the innings with left-hand batter Yashasvi Jaiswal. (As It Happened | Cricket News)
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who also scored a hundred and played some memorable innings in the last T20I series against Australia, was dropped from the playing XI and Shubman Gill was included in the squad. Gill scored 0 (2) along with Yashasvi Jaiswal 0 (3). This was the first time in the last 7 years that both India openers registered ducks in a T20I match.
However, BCCI released a post on X stating that Ruturaj Gaikwad was not available for selection in the second T20I due to illness.
Shreyas Iyer, who played a match-winning knock in the last T20I against Australia was rested as well. Ravi Bishnoi, who recently became the no. 1 T20I bowler in ICC rankings was also rested for the T20 match in Gqeberha. The team selection is under scrutiny after the loss against South Africa.
India made 180/7 in (19.3) when the rain came and the match started late and the DLS method came into play. The revised target for South Africa was 152 runs off 15 overs which the Proteas team achieved with seven balls and five wickets in hand.