Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has provided a massive update on the availability of T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa. Gambhir confirmed that Gill will be available for all five T20I matches against the Proteas, which are scheduled to take place from December 9-19.
On December 3, India named their 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa. Gill was included, but his availability was subject to fitness clearance. In the T20I format, Gill is not the captain. Middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian team in the series, with Gill as his deputy.
Shubman Gill is ready to hit the ground running – Gautam Gambhir
Speaking to the media after Team India’s 2-1 ODI series win against South Africa. Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Shubman Gill has made a full recovery. He said Gill was selected only because he was fully fit and keen to get back on the field.
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“Yes, Shubhman is ready to start. That’s why he was selected. And obviously he is in good shape and hungry.”
Gill last featured in T20Is during the five-match series against Australia. He is expected to return as an opener for India in the upcoming T20Is against South Africa. Gill will partner Abhishek Sharma at the top.
Shubman Gill forced to miss second Test, ODIs after neck injury
Shubman Gill injured his neck while batting during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. The right-handed hitter had to retire after facing only a few balls and did not return to bat in the second inning.
The injury also kept him out of the next Test in Guwahati. Rishabh Pant captained India in this match, which India lost by a huge margin of 408 runs and went on to lose the series 2–0.
Gill was also not selected for the subsequent three-match ODI series. India still managed to win the ODI series 2-1 on 6 December.
India and South Africa will now face each other in a five-match T20I series. The first match will be played in Cuttack on December 9, followed by matches in New Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
Hardik Pandya set for T20I return after injury layoff
Apart from the return of Shubman Gill for the T20Is, Hardik Pandya will also make a comeback in the upcoming series. Pandya had been out of the international scene since he suffered an issue during the 2025 Asia Cup Super Four match against Sri Lanka in Dubai, which also kept him out of the final against Pakistan.
He showed good form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he smashed an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls for Baroda against Punjab. His knock helped Baroda chase down 223 with an over to spare in Hyderabad. He also contributed with the ball, taking 1-52 in his spell of four overs.
In T20Is, the 32-year-old featured in 120 matches for India, scoring 1,860 runs with five fifties and picking up 98 wickets, including his best figures of 4 for 16.
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