Shubman Gill Declared Fit Ahead of IND vs SA T20 Series
The much-awaited India vs South Africa T20 series is set to begin on December 9. A major update ahead of the series is that Indian opener Shubman Gill has been declared fully fit and available for selection. Head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Gill has recovered well and is eager to make his comeback.
Gill had missed the ODI series after suffering a neck injury during the Kolkata Test. He underwent recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and was given a five-week rest period. According to Gambhir, Gill is now physically strong and match-ready, which is why he has been included in the squad.
Will Shubman Gill Feature in the T20?
Although Gill is fit, there is no final confirmation on whether he will be part of the T20 in the first T20 match. However, he is expected to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian team, with Gill serving as vice-captain.
Gill’s return marks a fresh chapter in his T20 international career, as the team management looks to build a strong core for the future.
Key Players Return to Strengthen Team India
India will be boosted by the return of several big names. Hardik Pandya has made a comeback after recovering from an injury that kept him out of action for over two months. Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested from the ODI series, is also back and will spearhead the pace attack.
Other important players returning to the squad include:
- Shivam Dube
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson
- Jitesh Sharma
- Axar Patel
- Varun Chakravarthy
The inclusion of these players gives India a strong balance of power hitters, all-rounders and quality bowlers.
India vs South Africa T20 Series Schedule
The five-match T20 series will be played across different venues in India. Here is the full schedule:
1st T20I – December 9 – Cuttack (Barabati Stadium)
2nd T20I – December 11 – Mullanpur (New Chandigarh)
3rd T20I – December 14 – Dharamsala
4th T20I – December 17 – Lucknow
5th T20I – December 19 – Ahmedabad
India will aim to continue their strong T20I form under captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Major Changes in India’s T20 Squad
The BCCI announced a 15-member squad for the T20 series. Several notable names are missing from the team:
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Rishabh Pant
- Dhruv Jurel
Veteran players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have already retired from the T20 format, paving the way for younger talents.
India’s Squad for IND vs SA T20 Series
India’s confirmed squad:
- Suryakumar Yadav (Captain),
- Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain),
- Abhishek Sharma,
- Tilak Varma,
- Hardik Pandya,
- Shivam Dube,
- Axar Patel,
- Jitesh Sharma (WK),
- Sanju Samson (WK),
- Jasprit Bumrah,
- Varun Chakravarthy,
- Arshdeep Singh,
- Kuldeep Yadav,
- Harshit Rana,
- Washington Sundar.
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