Hardik Pandya to make T20I return against South Africa

Hardik Pandya is set to return to India’s T20I side after making a strong comeback in domestic cricket. The all-rounder produced a match-winning performance for Baroda on December 2, scoring an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls in a 223-run chase against Punjab. He wasn’t the best with the ball and finished with 1/52 in his 4 overs. His return comes after a quadriceps injury ruled him out of the Asia Cup final, the Australia tour and all international cricket since September.

Hardik Pandya spent weeks at the BCCI Centre of Excellence before returning to action through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He is expected to play Baroda’s next game against Gujarat on December 4, depending on national selection. 

India’s selectors will name the squad for the 5-match T20I series against South Africa on Wednesday. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who is nursing a neck injury, is unlikely to be available. Gill faced just 3 balls in the first Test, missed the second Test in Guwahati and was then ruled out of the ODI series where KL Rahul is leading India.

Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the leading contenders to open with Abhishek Sharma but Gill has not been sidelined yet. Samson, part of the recent T20I squad in Australia, played only two matches on that tour. Jaiswal was not selected for that series but is expected to return for the home games.

Gill batted for a considerable length of time over the last few days without showing any signs of discomfort. The opener is likely to join the team in Bhubaneswar on December 7. Even if he misses the opener, Gill is still in contention for the remaining matches.

Rishabh Pant is also likely to make his T20I comeback. Pant missed the Asia Cup and the Australia tour due to a foot injury and last played a T20I in July 2024. He was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad and is in India’s long-term plans for all 3 formats. 

The selectors may also consider Riyan Parag, who is leading Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Parag last played a T20I in 2024.

It will be interesting to see the bowling lineup India pick. Shami has been in the news for his exclusion from the SA Test & ODI series despite fully recovering and featuring in domestic cricket. He played the Ranji Trophy and is currently playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Bengal. 

The T20I series begins on December 9 in Cuttack, followed by matches in:

• New Chandigarh – Dec 11
  
• Dharamsala – Dec 14
  
• Lucknow – Dec 17
  
• Ahmedabad – Dec 19
  

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, currently sit at No. 1 in the ICC T20I rankings, while South Africa are placed fifth.