All-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed and batter Shreyas Iyer have replaced Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda in India’s squad for the T20I series against South Africa, starting Wednesday, September 28. India take on South Africa in the T20i series in Thiruvanthapuram, Guwahati, and Indore. As their final international assignment ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

While Hardik Pandya was not named in the squad for the South Africa T20I series. Deepak Hooda has been ruled out due to a back injury. Pandya, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar will head to the National Cricket Academy for conditioning. BCCI had said in a statement on September 12. Shahbaz Ahmed and Shreyas Iyer will join the Indian squad ahead of the first T20I.

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We need to try all options we have, as this is final tour before the World Cup

Shahbaz was picked as a replacement for Washington Sundar for a ODI series in Zimbabwe earlier this year but the Bengal all-rounder did not get a game. On the other, hand Shreyas Iyer is part of the standby for the T20 World Cup. Deepak Hooda was unavailable for selection for the 3rd T20I against Australia on Sunday in Hyderabad after the BCCI confirmed a back injury for the all-rounder. The cricket board did not reveal the extent of Hooda’s injury even as the in-form all-rounder is part of India’s T20 World Cup Squad.

However, Shami was ruled out of the 3-match T20I series against Australia due to Covid-19. Umesh played a T20I for India for the first time in 3 years. He picked up 2 wickets but leaked 27 runs in 2 overs as India failed to chase 208 in the T20I series opener against Australia in Mohali. It remains to be seen if Umesh will retain his place in the T20i squad for the South Africa series.

Notably, India bounced back from the Mohali T20I defeat to win the series 2-1 against Australia. On Sunday, India chased down 187 successfully on the back of fifties from Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli. India have been hit by injury concerns in the recent past. Earlier in September, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out of the T20 World Cup. After he picked up a knee injury in the Asia Cup. Jadeja underwent surgery and Axar Patel replaced the senior all-rounder in the T20I squad for the series against South Africa, Australia and the World Cup.