Former Indian opener, Wasim Jaffer has opined that Rohit Sharma will find it difficult to finalize a playing XI in the absence of Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda during India’s upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa. After playing against Australia, Hardik won’t take part in the matches against the Proteas. He is currently at the NCA in Bengaluru for conditioning-related work.

On the other hand, Deepak Hooda has been ruled out of the series due to a back injury. Shreyas Iyer has been roped in as a replacement for Hooda. Jaffer also opined that India should pick Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI due to their issues with death bowling of late.

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Talking about the same during a chat with ESPNCricinfo, Wasim Jaffer said, “India should pick Arshdeep Singh in the 1st T20I purely because India’s problem lies with death bowling. Arshdeep coming in might help Harshal Patel to bowl in the middle overs.  In this series, India will have a problem with a sixth bowler as we don’t have Hardik Pandya, we don’t have Deepak Hooda. That is going to be a worry for Rohit Sharma to handle those five bowlers.”

Wasim Jaffer also advised Harshal Patel to put in more effort in his slower balls after the pacer went for plenty against the Aussies.

Explaining the same Wasim Jaffer said, “He has got the variations, he has really good slower balls. He has got really good Yorkers as well and he bowls at a decent pace. He needs to put in more effort while bowling slower deliveries. Sometimes, batters tend to wait for those deliveries knowing that it’s his go-to ball.”

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The first T20I between India and South Africa is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 28 in Trivandrum.