India on Wednesday announced their squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa starting December 9, with Suryakumar Yadav set to lead and Shubman Gill named vice-captain, subject to fitness clearance.Â
The squad features Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar.
One of the biggest talking points is the exclusion of middle-order batter Rinku Singh, who has been dropped despite consistent recent performances.
Star-all rounder Hardik Pandya, out of action since his injury in the Asia Cup Super 4 stage, makes his much-anticipated return. Gill, recovering from a neck injury sustained during the Test series, has been included but will play only if cleared by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
The series will serve as crucial preparation for India ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, where the defending champions aim to retain their crown.
