India captain Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed that Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya are “healthy and fit” ahead of the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday.
Gill had suffered neck spasms in the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, while Hardik sat out owing to a left quadriceps injury he suffered during the Asia Cup.
Hardik Shows Strong Form on Return
While Gill is yet to play since the injury, Hardik Pandya has already returned to competitive cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Representing Baroda, he bowled four overs in both matches, picked up a wicket each time and played a standout knock of 77* off 42 balls against Punjab to chase down 223.
Suryakumar mentioned how Hardik brings value to the table, especially with the new ball, which creates several lineup combinations and deepens India’s playing XI.
Experience and Balance Hardik Brings to the Team
Suryakumar insisted that Hardik’s experience of major tournaments of ICC and ACC events would come in handy. His all-round contributions provide stability and balance to India, and that strengthens the side going into the South Africa series.
Middle-Order Competition: Sanju Samson vs Jitesh Sharma
With Shubman Gill coming back to the top order, Suryakumar explained that Sanju Samson will be fighting it out mainly with Jitesh Sharma for a middle-order slot. He said that except for the openers, everyone else needs to be flexible around their batting positions. Samson, touted to bat higher up in his early years, has shown he can work his way from No 3 to No 6 a quality Suryakumar appreciates.
Flexibility Key for India’s Batting Line-Up
Suryakumar praised both Samson and Jitesh for their versatility, saying each can open or bat lower depending on team needs. He described their flexibility as a “good headache” for team management, while both players are very much in India’s plans going into the T20Is.
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