India v South Africa: With World T20 in focus, stakes are high for Harbhajan, Rahane and Axar

While India’s cricketers play plenty of T20 matches every year, the Indian team does not. India have, in fact, played the fewest T20 Internationals of any of Test playing countries. But with the 2016 ICC World T20 around the corner, that is about to change. Starting with the three-match series against South Africa, India are set to play at least nine matches over the next few months.

Firstpost takes a look at which players in India’s squad for the T20s against South Africa still haven’t stamped their passport for the tournament.

Harbhajan Singh

The Turbanator’s slot in the lineup is dependent, of course, on the team’s composition. While eyebrows were raised when Harbhajan got his Test call-up based on his IPL form, no one can deny that his impact on Mumbai Indians’ title charge in 2015 means he will be most at ease in T20Is. He repeatedly came to Rohit Sharma’s rescue with economical spells, and in the qualifier against CSK, won the match for MI with the wickets of Suresh Raina and Dhoni off consecutive deliveries.

Harbhajan had one swashbuckling cameo with the bat as well. In the tour of Zimbabwe, in not very helpful conditions, Harbhajan was solid if not spectacular and was unlucky not to end with more wickets to his name.

Ravichandran Ashwin is India’s best off-spinner and India won’t need two off-spinners in Tests often. Harbhajan was dropped after a solitary Test in the Sri Lanka series. His best chance to continue playing for India is clearly the shortest format and he will be itching to get a chance.

Could he get one last hurrah in India’s colours?

The Ajinkya Rahane – Ambati Rayudu contest

Firstpost said during the Bangladesh series that there was enough evidence to back Dhoni’s decision to bench Rahane in favour of Rayudu in the middle order. Rahane and Rayudu both got to play at their preferred positions in Zimbabwe and both did well. Rayudu was the man of the series in the ODIs before injury ruled him out T20s.

With the squad is back to full strength, however, the two are set to tussle it out again for a spot in the middle order. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are settled at the top, while the middle-order will be occupied by some combination of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Dhoni. Will Dhoni prefer the natural middle-order batsman in Rayudu or will he give Rahane – the man who was in tremendous form for Rajasthan Royals – a go in the middle order?

Whoever gets the nod, a good performance against South Africa is crucial for their chance of making the line-up for World T20.

The fast bowling combination - Mohit Sharma, Sreenath Aravind

India’s T20 squad for the South Africa series is short on pace – No Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron or Mohammad Shami. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given Dhoni’s admission to preferring control over pace. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar is the most experienced quick in the lineup and given his good form during the IPL and the Zimbabwe series means he merits a place in the playing XI against South Africa. And given Dhoni’s preference for spin bowlers in sub-continent conditions, it leaves possibly just one other slot open for a fast bowler.

While Mohit Sharma did have a good T20I series versus Zimbabwe, his form in the IPL this year was patchy at best. He offers good variations at the death, but Mohit became a bit predictable this IPL as he ended up with just 14 wickets in 16 matches at a run rate of nearly 8.5 RPO. Against the quality of South Africa’s batting lineup, a good performance from Mohit could go a long way in establishing his place in Dhoni’s lineup.

Sreenath Aravind, who offers variety to this attack as a left arm bowler, could also get a look in. With Mohammad Shami nearing full fitness, the fast bowling combination is one place where there is least clarity and best opportunities for players vying to make the World Cup squad.

Axar Patel

Dhoni loves his slow left arm spinners, especially in the limited-overs. Be it Ravindra Jadeja for India or Pawan Negi, Shadab Jakati and of course, Jadeja for CSK. In that regard, the spot in the playing XI is clearly now Axar Patel’s to lose. He had an excellent outing in Zimbabwe, and carried on the good form for India A with the ball. Axar’s biggest challenge over the next few months would be to improve his contribution with the bat and he could be occupying that spinning all-rounder spot for a while.