Hardik Pandya in, Harshit Rana out: Indias predicted playing XI for 1st T20I against South Africa
With Hardik Pandya returning to the side, India might consider playing only two specialist pacers in the playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday. Here is a look at India's predicted playing XI for the game.
Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are back as India gear up to take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series, starting Tuesday, December 09. Suryakumar Yadav-led India will look to get off to a winning start when the two teams lock horns in the first T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Indian players are already in Cuttack to prepare for the series opener on Tuesday.
Gill, who missed the Test and ODI series against the Proteas, is all set to make his comeback in the T20Is after recovering from a neck injury. The ODI and Test skipper underwent his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and travelled to Cuttack after receiving a green light from the medical staff.
He is expected to slot back into the XI directly and will open the batting with Abhishek Sharma. Hardik has returned to the side after recovering from a left quadricep injury sustained during the Asia Cup 2025 in September this year. The star all-rounder is also a confirmed selection in the playing XI and will look to set the ball rolling in the series opener.
With India set to play only 10 T20Is in run up to the T20 World Cup 2026, the five-match series against South Africa will be a chance for the selectors and the team management to nail the final combination for the showpiece event. India's battling line-up wears a settled look heading into the series against the Proteas.
Gill will open with Abhishek Sharma, with skipper Suryakumar batting at no.3. Tilak Varma will continue to bat at no.4, followed by Sanju Samson or Shivam Dube at no.5. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel will comprise the lower middle order and will take up the finishing duties. There will be a battle between Samson and Jitesh Sharma for the wicket-keeper's slot, however, the Kerala batter is likely to be the first choice.
Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav to be left out of the playing XI?
After Hardik's return to the side, India might have to leave out pacer Harshit Rana from the playing XI for the first T20I against South Africa. Arshdeep Singh, who is India's highest wicket-taker in T20Is and has been performing consistently, is likely to pip Rana in the XI.
Jasprit Bumrah will be back, spearheading India's pace attack in the game after getting rested from the ODI series against South Africa. Bumrah and Arshdeep will be the two specialist pacers in the squad, with Rana unlikely to make the cut as the team management might prefer three all-rounders in the XI - Hardik, Dube and Axar Patel to bolster batting depth.
Kuldeep Yadav is also unlikely to make the cut if India heads into the series opener with three all-rounders. The left-arm spinner, who picked up 4-fer in the recently concluded 3rd ODI against South Africa in Vizag, can only be included if one of Dube or Axar is left out. Varun Chakaravarthy is likely to be India's first-choice spinner in the series, considering his bowling heroics in the shortest format.
India's predicted playing XI for 1st T20I against South Africa:
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy