Mumbai: India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has delivered a major boost ahead of the South Africa series, confirming that star players Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya are fully fit and available for selection. Both players had been sidelined with injuries but have now returned to match readiness.
Gill suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa last month, while Pandya was recovering from a left quadricep issue sustained during the Asia Cup 2025. Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Cuttack, Suryakumar said:
“Both Gill and Hardik are looking healthy and fit.”
The skipper underlined Pandya’s critical role in providing balance, particularly as a new-ball option.
“When Hardik bowls with the new ball, it opens up a lot of combinations for us. His experience in major tournaments and knockout games adds massive value to the side.”
India Likely to Stick to Their Established T20I Combination
Suryakumar revealed that India has found stability in the T20I setup over the last several series and will avoid unnecessary experimentation ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
“In the last five or six series we’ve played, we have maintained a consistent combination. We don’t want to make too many changes. The only focus is on the brand of cricket we want to play.”
India enters the South Africa series with strong momentum, having won the Asia Cup and beaten Australia 2–1 away from home.
Sanju Samson’s Role and Middle-Order Flexibility
The captain also addressed the competition between wicketkeeper-batters Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, highlighting the importance of adaptability in modern T20 cricket.
“Apart from the openers, I believe everyone needs to be flexible. Sanju has previously opened the innings and done well, but Shubman had already cemented that position. Sanju has shown he’s prepared to bat anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6, which is very encouraging.”
India and South Africa Prepare for T20 World Cup 2026
The five-match series, beginning tomorrow in Cuttack, will be a key part of both teams’ preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
- India, the defending champions, are grouped with Pakistan, USA, Namibia and Netherlands.
- South Africa, the 2024 finalists, will compete in Group D alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada and UAE.
