India's T20I line-up: Who will be the second spinner? Or the back-up opener?
With big players sitting out the South Africa series, here's a chance for others to answer key questions and stake a claim for a ticket to Australia
Will Kul-Cha become a permanent partnership once again? • BCCI
Only one spot is up for grabs in India's middle order. But it's like a government job opening in the country - there are way more candidates than positions to be filled.
With 27 wickets in IPL 2022, Yuzvendra Chahal confirmed his status as India's No. 1 T20I spinner, but the second spinner's slot is not yet sealed. A year ago, Ravindra Jadeja would have walked into that role, but a below-par IPL followed by an injury has opened the door for others.
India's search for a back-up opener for Rohit and KL Rahul is still on. For the 2021 T20 World Cup, the selectors had picked Ishan Kishan for that role, saying he could also bat in the middle order if required. That he bats left-handed was seen as an "important" quality, and his wicketkeeping was a bonus.
With Bumrah not in the squad, there are likely to be plenty of opportunities for those next in line.
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo