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MUMBAI: Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to the India T20I side as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for a five-match series against South Africa.
The notable omissions from the squad are left-handed batter Rinku Singh and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who featured in the T20I series against Australia.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy in the shorter format, Shubman Gill, has also been named in the team; however, his participation will be subject to fitness.
Gill suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa, which eventually ruled him out of the Test and ODI series.
Pandya last played a match in the Asia Cup and was added to the squad after recovering from the injury. The all-rounder has showcased glimpses of form during India’s domestic T20I competition- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The Men in Blues’ pace attack will comprise Jasprit Bumrah, who is currently not part of the ODI series. Arshdeep Singh will partner with him alongside Harshit Rana.
On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Suryaykumar will continue to lead the side, with the five-match series commencing on December 9 in Cuttack.
The second T20I and remaining fixtures will be played on 11, 14, 17, and 19 in New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad, respectively.
South Africa won the two-Test series 2-0, and India led the ODI series 1-0 when the T20I squad was announced during the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday.
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
