Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made his return as India announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. The Men in Blue will host the Proteas for a five-match series starting December 9. Hardik had been sidelined with a left quadricep injury sustained during India’s final group-stage match against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025.
The injury also forced him to miss the tour of Australia and the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. Having recovered, Hardik has been leading Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26. Shubman Gillhas also been included in the squad, though his participation will depend on his fitness.
Gill was ruled out of the Test series against South Africa after the first innings of the opening match due to a neck injury and is also absent from the ODIs. He has been named vice-captain, while Suryakumar Yadav will continue as captain. Here is the 15-member squad for the South Africa T20I series:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC) (Subject to fitness), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana.
India Announces Schedule For 2025 T20I Series vs South Africa
The five-match T20I series between India and South Africa will kick off on Tuesday, December 9, in Cuttack. The second and third games are scheduled for Thursday, December 11, in New Chandigarh and Sunday, December 14, in Dharamsala, respectively.
The fourth T20I will take place in Lucknow on Wednesday, December 17, with the final match set for Friday, December 19, in Ahmedabad. The last T20I series South Africa played in India was in 2022/23, a three-match contest that India won 2-1.
India will look to continue their home dominance, while the Proteas will aim to secure a T20I series win in India, a feat they last achieved in 2015/16.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
