Suryakumar Yadav Anticipates Hardik Pandya's Impact in Upcoming T20 Series Against South Africa

India's Captain Discusses Team Dynamics Ahead of T20I Series

Cuttack: Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed confidence that Hardik Pandya's return will enhance the team's tactical options and overall balance as they prepare to face South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting Tuesday in Cuttack.

Pandya, who had been sidelined due to a left quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup final, has made a successful comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and is now fully fit.

His return is timely, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon next year, as it allows India to field multiple spinners thanks to his ability to bowl new-ball spells.

Suryakumar noted, "His bowling at the start opens up numerous combinations for our playing XI, which we saw during the Asia Cup."

He emphasized Pandya's experience and performance in crucial matches, stating, "His presence will significantly contribute to the team's balance."

Interestingly, Pandya arrived a day early in Cuttack and practiced alone at Barabati Stadium, skipping the optional training session on Monday. However, Suryakumar confirmed that both he and Shubman Gill, who is recovering from a neck spasm, are fit to play.

"Both of them appear to be in good health and ready to go," he mentioned.

This series marks the beginning of a 10-match stretch leading up to the home T20 World Cup in February, but Suryakumar indicated that their preparations began long ago.

"Our groundwork for the 2026 T20 World Cup started right after our victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. We've been experimenting with new strategies since then, and they are yielding positive results," he explained.

He highlighted that India's recent achievements are a result of consistent team selection.

"In the last five to six series, we've maintained a similar lineup without making too many changes. Everything is functioning well, and we aim to continue this approach," he added.

Regarding discussions about players like Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma, Suryakumar reiterated the importance of flexibility within the team.

"Sanju has previously batted higher in the order, but I believe all players, except the openers, need to be adaptable. He is willing to bat at any position," he said.

He assured that the team would avoid unnecessary changes.

"We won't be altering our combinations significantly since things are progressing smoothly. We intend to stick to our established process," he stated.

When asked about Rinku Singh's position in light of Shivam Dube's emergence, Suryakumar clarified that both Dube and Pandya are all-rounders, making direct comparisons difficult.

"All our batters from positions three to seven are capable of batting anywhere in the lineup," he noted.

As for the series, Suryakumar kept the objectives straightforward.

"Our goal is to play quality cricket. We are executing certain aspects well, so there’s no reason to change that," he remarked.

The red-soil pitch at Barabati will be used for the first time, and Suryakumar mentioned he hasn't yet assessed it.

"We will evaluate it. If it plays fast, that would be beneficial," he added.

When questioned about the potential impact of dew and the toss, Suryakumar chuckled, recalling KL Rahul's quirky toss win that ended India's streak of 20 consecutive toss losses in ODIs.