Both Nortje and Coetzee are returning from injuries that have sidelined them for months, and are expected to get game time at the IPL, which could be used to assess their readiness for a major tournament. Nortje and Coetzee are two of at least eight seam bowlers South Africa could include - the others being Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Ottniel Baartman and Lizaad Williams - in their 15-player touring party.

Coetzee has already departed for India, where he has been placed in the care of the Mumbai Indians medical staff as he recovers from a groin injury. He last played in the Boxing Day Test against India, where he developed pelvic inflammation and was unable to take part in the next match, the SA20 or the opening rounds of the domestic T20 tournament. It is expected that he will not play early on in the IPL either, with a view to getting match time later in the event.

However, those are not the only players Walter will have to monitor. The CSA T20 Challenge runs until the end of April and has Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bjorn Fortuin, Baartman and Williams involved, and all of them are also in contention for the tournament.

South Africa will name their T20 World Cup squad towards the end of April and will play three T20Is against West Indies before the competition starts on June 2.