India vs South Africa: New Rules to be introduced by the Indian Cricket Board- Reports

The Indian T20 League 2022 has been completed, and the players are ready to tackle the international leg. India is all set to host South Africa for a five-match T20i series starting on the 9th of June. The first match of the series will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

The severe heat reaching around 40 degrees Celsius this week is the talk of the game, with rains still to fall on the national capital. The Proteas captain Temba Bavuma was glad that they were playing evening games when the weather is more bearable.

"We expected it to be hot, not this hot. Fortunately, the games are being played in the evening. At night, it is more bearable. The guys are trying to keep themselves hydrated. Keeping themselves as mentally fresh as they can," Bavuma said in a press conference on Wednesday.

"Hydration, cramping and fatigue are big things. We can only get used to it by playing in this heat. And unfortunately for us, we are doing it in competitive cricket," he added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to a Times of India report, has decided to introduce a drinks break between 10 overs of each innings. The decision was taken to provide players some relief from the heat during the T20I series. Notably, T20 International matches do not feature drink breaks, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) included them for the T20 World Cup last year in the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, the Indian squad has taken some significant blows ahead of the opening encounter. Due to injury, captain KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav have been ruled out of the series. Rahul sustained a groin injury, while Yadav was injured while batting in the nets. Rishabh Pant, who was appointed as KL Rahul's deputy, will now captain the squad in the T20i series. Hardik Pandya will be the new vice-captain of the series.