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Hardik Pandya will be eyeing a rare double as India lock horns with South Africa in a five-match T20I series, which gets underway on Tuesday, December 09. After suffering a humiliating whitewash in the Test series against the Proteas, India returned to winning ways by clinching the ODI series 2-1 and will be hoping to continue their winning momentum in T20Is.
Hardik will be making his comeback to the Indian team after a significant layoff due to a left quadricep injury. The all-rounder sustained the injury during the Asia Cup 2025 in September this year and was subsequently sidelined from action. He recently made his comeback in competitive cricket for Baroda in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.
Hardik slammed an unbeaten 77 and led Baroda to a victory over Punjab in the tournament. He will be looking to continue his fine form in the five-match T20I series against the Proteas. Ahead of the start of the five-match rubber, Hardik stands on the verge of achieving a rare double in T20Is.
Hardik needs only two wickets and 140 runs in the series to become the first Indian and fourth player overall to achieve the double of 100 wickets and 2,000 runs in T20Is. The all-rounder currently has 1860 runs and 98 wickets to his name in 120 matches in T20Is for India.
Hardik will become only the 4th player from a Test nation to achieve the feat if he manages to score 140 runs and take 2 wickets in the South Africa series. Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Nabi and Sikandar Raza are the only players with over 2,000 runs and more than 100 wickets in T20Is.
Hardik will also become only the second Indian, after left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, to complete 100 wickets in T20Is.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is also on the cusp of achieving a big milestone in T20Is. He needs just 1 wicket to complete 100 wickets in T20Is. Bumrah will be looking to complete 100 wickets in the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday. Bumrah can join Arshdeep Singh in the elite list of Indian bowlers with 100 or more wickets in T20Is.
Axar Patel is also close to achieving a big milestone in T20 cricket. The all-rounder needs only 47 runs to complete 3,500 runs in T20 cricket. He will become the first Indian to score 3500 runs and take 250 wickets in T20 cricket if he manages to score 47 runs in the upcoming series against South Africa.
