BCCI has retained Suryakumar Yadav as captain for the five-match T20I series at home against South Africa, handing Shubman Gill the vice-captaincy subject to fitness while welcoming all-rounder Hardik Pandya back after his injury layoff.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa, starting December 9 in Cuttack. Suryakumar Yadav continues as skipper, with opener Shubman Gill returning as vice-captain after a neck injury, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya cleared for a comeback following a two‑month absence.
Key Squad Highlights
Gill’s availability for the opening games will depend on final fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence, as he has been rehabbing after missing the second Test in Guwahati and the ODI leg against the Proteas. Hardik, who last played competitive cricket in the Asia Cup before suffering a left quadricep injury, forced his way back by scoring heavily in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda.
The squad also includes big-hitting youngsters Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, seam options Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, plus a spin unit of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakaravarthy. Wicketkeeping duties will be shared between Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, giving the management flexibility with finishing roles and middle-order combinations.
Series Schedule and Venues
The T20I leg of South Africa’s tour will be played across five venues: Cuttack (Dec 9), New Chandigarh / Mullanpur (Dec 11), Dharamsala (Dec 14), Lucknow (Dec 17) and Ahmedabad (Dec 19). With the ICC T20 World Cup cycle approaching, this home series is expected to serve as a key testing ground for India’s preferred combinations in powerplay and death-overs roles.
Full India T20I Squad vs South Africa
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC, subject to fitness), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.
