India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has wrapped up his domestic cricket commitments and is set to link up with the national team for the upcoming T20 International series against South Africa. Pandya will join the squad in Cuttack on December 6, the official assembly date for the five-match series.
Domestic Warm-up Concludes
After receiving the green light from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE), Pandya returned to competitive cricket by playing two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) matches for Baroda. He featured in the games against Punjab on December 2 and Gujarat on December 4. Initially, he was slated to play a third match against Haryana on December 6, but plans were altered to facilitate his immediate integration with the Indian team.
While the entire squad is scheduled to gather on December 6, some players, including Pandya, might arrive a day earlier on December 5. The final travel logistics are still being finalized.
Mixed Performances in SMAT Comeback
Pandya's return from a quadricep injury showed promising signs in the domestic T20 tournament. His first outing against Punjab was a tale of two halves. While he had an expensive spell with the ball, conceding 52 runs in 4 overs and taking one wicket, he was explosive with the bat. The right-handed batter smashed a blistering 77 runs off just 42 balls, an innings studded with four sixes, to guide Baroda to a successful chase of 223.
In his final preparatory match against Gujarat, the roles were somewhat reversed. Pandya was highly economical with the ball, delivering a spell of 1 wicket for 16 runs. With the bat, his services were barely needed in a modest chase of 74 runs, and he contributed a quick 10 runs off 6 balls.
Team Ready for South Africa Challenge
The Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will be bolstered by Pandya's return as a premier pace-bowling all-rounder. The squad also includes vice-captain Shubman Gill, whose participation is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI CoE.
The complete squad for the T20I series is as follows:
- Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
- Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain)*
- Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel, Washington Sundar
- Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK)
- Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
*Subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE.
Pandya's successful return to match fitness and form is a significant boost for the Indian team's balance as they prepare to take on a strong South African side in the five-match T20I series, beginning soon after the squad's assembly in Cuttack.
