“Shubman Gill Returns as Harshit Rana Misses Out: India’s Probable 1st T20I XI vs South Africa”

India Likely XI for 1st T20I vs South Africa: Shubman Gill Returns, Hardik Pandya Back.

Team India has arrived in Cuttack, Odisha, ahead of the first T20I against South Africa on December 9 at Barabati Stadium. Coming off a 2-1 ODI series win, India will aim to start the T20 series strongly while testing bench strength ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup at home.

The series also marks the return of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. Gill, sidelined due to a neck injury during the Test and ODI series, has cleared a fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and is expected to open alongside Abhishek Sharma. Pandya, who missed the Asia Cup final with a quadriceps injury, will bat at No. 6.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav will bat at No. 3, with Tilak Varma at No. 4 and Sanju Samson at No. 5. Axar Patel will strengthen the middle order with all-round capabilities. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy will support the pace attack of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.

India’s Likely XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh