SRH's Umran, Arshdeep, Tripathi likely to get maiden India call-ups

MUMBAI: A fabulous show in the IPL could see Jammu pacer Umran Malik as one of the first names listed on the team sheet when the selectors meet here on Sunday to pick the squads for the five-match T20I series in South Africa at home, the two T20Is in Ireland and the England tour, which includes one Test, three T20Is and three ODIs.

Though Sunrisers Hyderabad have been knocked out of this IPL, Umran, who has impressed everyone with his extreme pace, could be in both the squads and in line for a Test debut in Birmingham.

Also in line for a maiden call-up could be Punjab's left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, according to sources. T Natarajan (SRH), Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan (LSG) are the other left-arm pacers who've impressed in this IPL, and either of them could find a spot in the India T20I side. The SA T20Is will be the start of a series of 'auditions' for a berth in India's T20 World Cup squad.

Worryingly, there's a fair bit of injury crisis too, with six players, namely Deepak Chahar (quadricep), Ravindra Jadeja (rib), Suryakumar Yadav (left thumb and



forearm), T Natarajan (hamstring), Washington Sundar (split webbing) and Harshal Patel (hand injury) recovering from injuries.

Others are in the reckoning are Maharashtra's Rahul Tripathi, who dazzled for SRH this season, and Hyderabad's promising left-hander Tilak Varma. Ruturaj Gaikwad could be given another chance vs SA.

Knowing head coach Rahul Dravid's preference for the tried and tested, Deepak Hooda and Venkatesh Iyer, who did reasonably well in the home series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, should be in too. It's also certain that both spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will be back.

SENIORS TO BE RESTED FOR SA SERIES?

Skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant are all likely to be rested from the T20I series against the Proteas, but this couldn't be confirmed. Like he did in Sri Lanka last year, experienced opener Shikhar Dhawan could be asked to lead the team against South Africa. There's a possibility that veteran 'keeper-bat Dinesh Karthik, is recalled to the T20 side.