India vs South Africa: Shreyas Iyer, Shahbaz Ahmed replace Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya for T20I series

India vs South Africa: All-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed and batter Shreyas Iyer have been included to India's squad for a 3-match T20I series, starting September 28 at home. India will miss the services of injured Deepak Hooda.

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 -- 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, news agency PTI reported on Monday.

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.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Mohammed Shami recovers in time from Covid-19 for the T20I series against South Africa. The senior fast bowler, who was picked as a standby player in India's T20 World Cup squad, was included in the T20I series against South Africa and Australia.

However, Shami was ruled out of the 3-match T20I series against Australia due to Covid-19 and Umesh Yadav was named as his replacement. 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.