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India’s T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill and ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya are set to return to the side ahead of the T20I series against South Africa.
Speaking ahead of the first T20I, Suryakumar said both Pandya and Gill are fit ahead of the series opener.
“Both [Gill and Pandya] are looking healthy and fit,” Suryakumar said.
Shubman Gill was ruled out of the second Test and ODI series against South Africa after suffering a neck injury. Hardik, who last played in the Asia Cup, remained out of the action due to a quadriceps injury.
The skipper hailed the all-rounder for bringing variety into the lineup and called his inclusion an equalizer for the team’s combination.
“What you saw in the Asia Cup also, when he [Hardik] was bowling with the new ball, he opened up a lot of options, combinations for us with respect to the playing XI,” he said.
“That’s what he brings to the table. His experience, the way he has done well in all big games, all ICC events, ACC events. I think that experience will count a lot and his presence will definitely give a good balance to the side,” Surykumar Yadav concluded.
It is pertinent to mention that South Africa clean-swept India in the two-match Test series. However, they were humbled by India in the ODI series after losing 2-1.
The first of the five-match T20I series fixture will be played tomorrow at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
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