Shubman Gill is set to make his return to the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa, marking a significant boost for the team ahead of the T20 World Cup in February. The series, which begins on December 9th in Cuttack, will be a crucial opportunity for players to fine-tune their skills and solidify their places in the World Cup squad.
Gill's inclusion is, however, subject to him receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. He had been sidelined due to a neck injury sustained during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata last month. The injury, which occurred early in his innings, forced him to retire hurt and miss subsequent matches. After undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, Gill has shown signs of improvement and is expected to be available for selection. He has been named the vice-captain for the series.
Alongside Gill, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is also making a comeback to the T20I squad after recovering from an injury sustained during the Asia Cup in September. Pandya's return bolsters the team's balance and provides much-needed firepower in the middle order. He proved his fitness by smashing 77 off 42 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The T20I series against South Africa is India's penultimate bilateral assignment before the T20 World Cup, with another series against New Zealand scheduled before the big event. The series presents a valuable opportunity for the team management to assess the players' form and finalize the squad for the World Cup.
Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side, while the squad features a blend of experienced players and promising youngsters. The batting line-up includes Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube, providing a mix of explosive starts and middle-order strength. Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead the pace attack, while the spin department will be led by Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.
The complete squad includes Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), 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, and Washington Sundar.
The series schedule is as follows: December 9 in Cuttack, December 11 in New Chandigarh, December 14 in Dharamsala, December 17 in Lucknow, and December 19 in Ahmedabad.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, the return of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya provides a significant boost to India's chances. The series against South Africa will be a crucial test for the team as they aim to ফাইন-tune their preparations and build momentum for the upcoming World Cup.
