India's star fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is on the verge of achieving two milestones during the five-match T20I series against South Africa, which will start from December 9. Hardik, who is making his international comeback after recovery, needs 140 more runs to reach 2,000 in T20Is and just two wickets to claim his 100th scalp in the shortest format of the game.
Hardik is on the verge of reaching a new milestone
Hardik is currently India's third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, with 98 scalps at an average of 26.58. With the bat, he has scored 1,860 runs in 120 matches at an average of 27.35, striking at 141.01, including five half-centuries.
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Hardik Pandya's injury
Hardik has been out of action since the Asia Cup 2025 after suffering a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup 2025 in September. He was also forced to sit out the Asia Cup final against Pakistan, which India won, and also missed India’s white-ball tour of Australia due to the injury.
The T20 World Cup 2024 winning vice-captain recently proved his fitness while playing for Baroda in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), scoring a quick 77 off 42 balls to guide his team to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Punjab.
India vs South Africa T20I schedule
| Match | Date | Day | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | December 9 | Tuesday | Cuttack |
| 2nd T20I | December 11 | Thursday | Mullanpur |
| 3rd T20I | December 14 | Sunday | Dharamsala |
| 4th T20I | December 17 | Wednesday | Lucknow |
| 5th T20I | December 19 | Friday | Ahmedabad |
Squads
India: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Lutho Sipamla, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortjeand Tristan Stubbs.
South Africa: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
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