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Hardik Pandya is reportedly set to return for Team India in their upcoming T20I series against South Africa. Shubman Gill is unlikely to make the cut amid doubts over his availability for the five-match series. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel will meet in Raipur on Wednesday, November 03, to pick India's 15-man squad for the T20I series against the Proteas.
As per ESPNCricinfo, Hardik is set to make his comeback in the squad after recovering from a left quadricep injury sustained during the Asia Cup in September this year. Hardik made his competitive return for Baroda in their clash against Punjab in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 on Tuesday.
The star all-rounder led Baroda to a 7-wicket win against Punjab in SMAT 2025. Hardik finished with figures of 1/52 with the ball, before playing a match-winning knock of unbeaten 77 off 42 balls, laced with 4 sixes and 7 fours to help Baroda chase down the target of 223 runs with five balls to spare.
The Indian selectors will be pleased with Hardik's return, however, there continue to be doubts over Gill's fitness. Gill, who hurt his neck while batting during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata last month, is currently undergoing his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. According to the report, Gill's injury involves a pinched nerve, and he has been recommended to rest for at least five weeks before resuming training.
Thus, it is unlikely that India's ODI and Test skipper will be part of the T20I squad for the South Africa series. In his absence, the selectors can consider roping in Yashasvi Jaiswal to the squad as a specialist opener, or Sanju Samson can open with Abhishek Sharma.
Samson was part of India's squad in the T20I series against Australia; however, he played only two matches and batted at number 3 once. Jaiswal was not part of India's T20I squad in the series against Australia.
As per ESPNCrcinfo, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel might also consider bringing back all-rounder Riyan Parag in the T20I squad for the South Africa series. Parag has not featured for India since the Bangladesh T20I series last year. He is currently leading Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but hasn't quite managed to impress with only 29 runs in three matches.
