BCCI names strong T20I squad for South Africa series; Gill & Hardik return

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member Indian T20I squad for the upcoming South Africa series on Wednesday, December 3. The series is scheduled to start on Tuesday, December 9, at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

There are no major changes made to the squad from the one that played against Australia Down Under. Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya form the top and middle-order, while Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma are the keeper-batter options.

Delving into the details of the changes in the T20I squad, finisher Rinku Singh couldn’t find a spot in the squad, while star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will make his return after being rested for the ongoing three-match ODI series vs the Proteas.

Along with Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are part of the pace attack. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar are the three spinners alongside spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel.

Interestingly, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya are making their return to international cricket after being sidelined due to a neck spasm and quadriceps injury, respectively. While Gill suffered a neck spasm during the first Test against South Africa, Hardik Pandya picked up a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup earlier this year.

India’s T20I squad vs South Africa: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

Note: Shubman Gill’s participation depends on the fitness clearance from the BCCI COE.

India’s T20I series schedule vs South Africa:

December 9: 1st T20I in Cuttack

December 11: 2nd T20I in Mullanpur 

December 14: 3rd T20I in Dharamsala 

December 17: 4th T20I in Lucknow 

December 19: 5th T20I in Ahmedabad

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