Shikhar Dhawan has already played at two T20 World Cups for India in 2014 and 2016 and some good form at this year's IPL tournament had seen his name thrust back into the selection spotlight.
Skipper for South Africa T20Is, Rahul was ruled out of the series owing to a right groin injury on June 8. Rahul then reported to the NCA where the medical team assessed the batter would not play the rescheduled fifth Test against England.
Karthik had smashed 55 runs off 27 balls in the fourth T20I against South Africa in Rajkot. His knock helped Team India reach a defendable score of 169.