Mumbai, Dec 2: Hardik Pandya has got the clearance to return to the T20 format and will be playing his first match in nearly two-and-half months against Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Hyderabad on Tuesday.India’s T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill will be reporting at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence on Monday for his mandatory fitness assessment protocols, which will determine his return to action for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa starting December 9.
Gill had sustained a neck injury while batting during the second day of the opening Test against South Africa in Kolkata and since then has missed the second Test and the ongoing ODI series.
Since the Indian T20I squad wouldn’t have any surprises — not even minor — unless there are any injury issues, the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar will be waiting for Gill’s fitness report from the Sports Science team at the COE.