India strengthen T20I squad with return of key all-rounder for South Africa series

India receive a major boost as a star all-rounder returns to the T20I squad for the upcoming South Africa series, strengthening the team’s balance and depth.

Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube (Image Credit: BCCI)

India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya makes his way into the T20I squad against South Africa as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announce the squad. During India's ongoing ODI series against the Proteas, the board has revealed the squad with just a few changes. Pandya, who got a green signal from Centre of Excellence and also scored an astounding half-century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, has returned to the squad.

Meanwhile, India's vice-captain Shubman Gill, who missed the ODI series due to neck spasm is also included in the T20I team. Apart from these, the rest of the players are the same. This squad is likely to remain same in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The players will be happy to have found a place. Moreover, India are going with all-rounders which has become a normal thing for the hosts recently.

Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, 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.

Why is Rinku Singh dropped from T20I squad?

The Indian team has a star finisher, Rinku Singh, who is likely to get married in the mid-December and requested the board to grant him leave for the same. As per reports, this is the reason why the selectors dropped him from the team. He is likely to make his comeback in the World Cup 2026 squad.

Rinku has been fighting for a place in the Indian team due to the inclusion of allrounders in the playing XI. Gautam Gambhir prefers to have more allrounders than specialist batters and bowlers. While this hasn't given Indian any results yet, the experiement is still going on. This is the reason why Rinku didn't get a place in the T20I playing XI in the Asia Cup 2025.

Where to watch the India vs South Africa match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs South Africa 2nd ODI match online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.

Also read: India’s WTC campaign suffers blow after embarrasing defeat vs SA; slips from third position

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