Ind vs SA T20: India's Probable XI; Gill, Hardik Return, 9 Dropped

• India will play a five-match T20 series against South Africa, starting December 9 in Cuttack, as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
• Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya are set to return to the Indian squad for the T20 series.
• India's probable playing XI features Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma opening, Suryakumar Yadav at number three, and Jitesh Sharma as wicketkeeper.
• The team may include all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and bowlers Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarty.
• Nine players from the last ODI squad, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (retired from T20s), are likely to be excluded from the first T20.

Why It Matters: India's T20 team overhaul shapes its World Cup future.