India's T20 squad for South Africa series announced: Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill back, Surya appointed captain

Mumbai (Uttam Hindu News): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the Indian team for the five-match T20 series against South Africa. The selection committee expressed confidence in Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy, appointing him as the captain. The biggest news of this series is the return of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and opener Shubman Gill, who were sidelined due to injury.

Gill and Hardik, who have returned from injury, have bolstered India's top order with the return of Shubman Gill. Gill was injured during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. Due to this injury, he was unable to participate in the Guwahati Test and the ongoing ODI series. The selectors have not only included him in the team but have also given him the responsibility of vice-captaincy.

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is returning to the field after nearly two months. His return will provide a major boost to the team's all-rounder department.

The T20 series between India and South Africa will begin in Cuttack on December 9.

The series has a packed schedule, with matches being played across different parts of the country.

Full series schedule:

1st T20: December 9 (Cuttack)

2nd T20: December 11 (New Chandigarh)

3rd T20: December 14 (Dharamsala)

4th T20: December 17 (Lucknow)

Fifth T20: December 19 (Ahmedabad)

India's squad for the South Africa Test

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar.