Top News

New Delhi: Hardik Pandya is likely to return to T20Is when the selectors announce the squad for the five-match series against South Africa on Wednesday. Meanwhile Indias vice-captain Shubman Gills availability uncertain. Gills fitness is expected to be a key discussion point for the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee when they convene in Raipur the venue for India’s second ODI against South Africa. Samson or Jaiswal are the leading candidates to replace Gill If Gill is misses out Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal are the leading candidates to open alongside Abhishek Sharma. Samson was part of the recent T20I tour of Australia but featured in only two of the five games batting just once at No. 3 whereas Jaiswal was not included in that squad. Gill sustained a neck injury while batting in the first innings of the opening Test against South Africa in Kolkata forcing him to retire hurt and take no further part in the match. He was ruled out of the second Test which India lost to go down 2-0 in the series and has also been absent from the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa. Gill requires at least five weeks of rest before he can begin training As per reports Gill is dealing with a pinched nerve and according to the initial assessment by the BCCI medical team he requires at least five weeks of rest before he can begin training again. He reached the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Monday to continue his rehabilitation. The selectors might consider Riyan Parag for inclusion in the 15-member squad. Parag last represented India in the 2024 T20I series against Bangladesh is currently captaining Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Both the selectors and the team management will be encouraged by Hardiks smooth return to action he guided Baroda to a win over Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Tuesday after recovering from the left quadricep injury he sustained during the Asia Cup in September. In his first competitive outing in over two months Hardik picked 1 wicket conceding 52 runs in four overs and struck an unbeaten match-winning 77. He had earlier missed the five-match T20I series in Australia in October–November which India won 2-1 with two games washed out. T20I series against South Africa is scheduled to start from December 9 The T20I series against South Africa is scheduled to start from December 9 in Cuttack shortly after the ODI series concludes on December 6. The remaining matches will be played in New Chandigarh on December 11 Dharamsala on December 14 Lucknow on December 17 and Ahmedabad on December 19. Suryakumar Yadav-led team India currently hold the No. 1 spot in T20Is whereas South Africa sit fifth in the rankings.