Hardik Pandya Ready to Come Back for T20I Against South Africa; Shubman Gill Probably Out

Hardik Pandya Ready to Come Back for T20I Against South Africa; Shubman Gill Probably Out

India vs South Africa T20I Series: Hardik Pandya is ready to return to India’s T20I team when selectors announce the squad for the five-match series against South Africa on Wednesday.

There are doubts about Shubman Gill, India’s T20I vice-captain. His fitness will be the main topic for Ajit Agarkar and the selection panel when they meet in Raipur, where India is playing the second ODI.

If Gill is not fit, Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal could open the batting with Abhishek Sharma. Samson was in the recent T20I squad against Australia but played only two matches and batted once at No. 3. Jaiswal was not part of that squad.

Gill injured his neck during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He retired hurt and missed the rest of the match, the second Test, and the ongoing ODI series. Doctors say it is a pinched nerve, and he needs at least five weeks of rest before training again. He has now joined the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehab.

Selectors may also look at Riyan Parag for the 15-member squad. He last played for India in a T20I series against Bangladesh in 2024 and is currently leading Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Hardik’s return is good news. He helped Baroda beat Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Tuesday, scoring 77 not out and taking 1 wicket for 52 runs. This was his first match in more than two months after recovering from a thigh injury suffered in the Asia Cup. He had missed the T20I series in Australia, which India won 2-1.

The T20I series against South Africa starts on December 9 in Cuttack. Other matches will be played in New Chandigarh (Dec 11), Dharamsala (Dec 14), Lucknow (Dec 17), and Ahmedabad (Dec 19).

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is ranked No. 1 in T20Is, while South Africa is ranked No. 5.