Kolkata : India have announced the squad that will take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on December 9.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill returns from injury after missing out a part of the Test series and the entire ODI series against the Proteas. He has been named in the squad, but his participation will depend on receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
Another major boost for India is the return of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who had been sidelined since the Asia Cup in September.
The all rounder missed out on the subsequent white ball tour of Australia and also the ongoing ODI series against South Africa as he builds up his match fitness.
2 notable absentees from the squad that toured Australia are Rinku Singh and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Rinku featured only in the fifth and final T20I against Australia but didn’t get a chance to bat as the match was abandoned after just 4.5 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy was part of the XI in two ODIs.
Jasprit Bumrah returns to the squad after being rested for the ODI series. The series begins on December 9 in Cuttack and will finish on December 19 in Ahmedabad.
The five match series will serve as key preparation for both the sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 which is set to begin on February 7.
India squad for T20I series against SA: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
Note: * Subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE.
