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Hardik Pandya is expected to return to T20Is as India's selectors are set to pick the squad for the five-match series against South Africa on Wednesday. The big concern, though, remains the availability of the current T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill. The selection meeting will be held in Raipur, where India are playing the second ODI of the ongoing series.

Gill sustained a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. He had retired hurt and did not take part in the remainder of the match. He also missed the second Test, which India lost by a huge margin, and the full ODI series.

The injury is understood to be a pinched nerve. According to the BCCI medical team, Gill needs at least five weeks of rest before he can start training again. He has now reached the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehab.

With Gill unlikely to play, the selectors have to find a new opener. Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two main options. Samson was in the squad for the T20Is against Australia recently but got limited opportunities and batted only once.

Jaiswal wasn’t in that squad but remains a strong contender, given his attacking nature. One of these two is likely to open along with Abhishek Sharma, who has become an integral part of India’s T20 scheme of things.

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The big positive for India is the return of Hardik Pandya to competitive cricket. On Tuesday, he made a strong comeback into the side of Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by taking 1 for 52 in four overs and making a match-winning 77 not out. He had sustained a left quadricep injury during the Asia Cup. He had also missed the five-match T20I series in Australia.

The selectors are also likely to discuss Riyan Parag. He last played for India in 2024 and is currently leading Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His recent form could help him make it into the 15-member squad.

The T20I series starts in Cuttack on December 9. The other fixtures are scheduled for New Chandigarh (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17) and Ahmedabad (December 19). India, under Suryakumar Yadav, are the No. 1 T20I team while South Africa are placed fifth.