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Hardik Pandya’s Return Restores India’s Tactical Balance: Suryakumar Yadav

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
  • Dec 08, 2025
  • 520

India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav asserted that the comeback of Hardik Pandya has reinstated the equilibrium the team had been lacking in recent series. Hardik’s ability to bowl with the new ball, Surya emphasized, opens the door for India to deploy a wider range of tactical combinations — including line-ups featuring three or even four spinners.

Pandya, who missed the Asia Cup final due to injury, has now regained full fitness and returned to form after proving his readiness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. “When Hardik bowls with the new ball, we gain the freedom to opt for multiple spin options,” Surya explained.

Gill Fully Fit; Key Players Return

Vice-captain Shubman Gill, previously sidelined with neck stiffness during the South Africa Tests and ODIs, is also completely fit and available for selection. The first T20I of the five-match series will take place on Tuesday in Cuttack.

Surya confirmed, “Both Hardik and Gill are fully fit and ready. Their presence adds depth and stability to our squad.”

Why Rinku Singh Out, Dubey In?

Addressing questions over Rinku Singh’s absence and Shivam Dubey’s inclusion, Surya clarified that the selection reflects the team’s desire for greater flexibility.

“Dubey and Hardik are both all-rounders; there’s no direct comparison with Rinku. In our setup, batters from No. 3 to No. 7 are interchangeable. Tilak Varma can slot in at No. 6, while Dubey can walk in at No. 3 — it all depends on the match situation,” he stated.

Sanju Samson’s Role

Surya noted that except for the openers, every batter — including Sanju Samson — must be prepared to float in the order. “Sanju is ready to bat wherever the team requires,” he added.

Preparation for T20 World Cup 2026

With the next T20 World Cup scheduled in India in February 2026, Surya revealed that the groundwork began immediately after winning the 2024 edition.

“We won’t indulge in excessive experimentation. For the past five to six series, we’ve maintained a consistent combination — and it’s working. We plan to continue with the same process,” he affirmed.

Red Clay Debut in Cuttack

The Barabati Stadium will use a red clay pitch for the first time. Surya believes that if the track offers pace, it will favour an exciting contest, though dew is expected to influence conditions later in the evening.

India’s Squad for the South Africa T20I Series

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.