The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on May 22, announced a balanced squad for the upcoming home series against South Africa, with maiden call-ups for Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik while Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya were also included after impressing with their brilliant comeback at the IPL this season.
“I got to know just before the match, in the bus that I have got selected for the Indian team. Because the match was going on I didn’t feel much. It will sink in slowly. It is a special moment. I feel lucky and grateful and would like to continue like this,” Arshdeep was quoted by NDTV Sports.
“Credit goes to management. They got such batters in the team that the only option to stop them in the nets was by bowling yorkers. And that improved my ability to bowl yorkers,” said Arshdeep.
The KL Rahul-led Indian team will host the Proteas for a five-match T20I series starting June 9.
The team will see plenty of fresh faces as many of the senior members like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli have been rested, while the youngsters who impressed in the IPL have been given an opportunity.