Team India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has urged young cricketers to continue playing domestic cricket, saying it keeps them grounded and connected to where they started from. Surya said that with fewer international matches on the schedule, players now have more opportunities to return to local competitions.
After winning the ODI series 2-1, India will face South Africa in the five-match T20 series. The upcoming T20I phase will be played in different cities. Notably, the series will begin in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9, followed by matches in New Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
This is a very important part of their development – Suryakumar Yadav
Speaking before the first T20 match, Suryakumar Yadav said that the growth in domestic cricket is becoming a boon for the players. He also said that domestic cricket is not only helpful for youngsters but also for senior players who want to improve their game.
Suryakumar Yadav said, “With fewer international fixtures, players are spending more time in domestic cricket – in a way, it is taking them back to their roots. It is important to play domestic cricket whenever possible.”
He said, “Many players go back, stay in touch with the game and there is always more to learn. It is a very important part of their development.”
We don’t want to make too many changes in terms of combination – Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav made it clear that the team does not want to experiment just to try new combinations. He said the group wants to stick to a clear style of cricket and create continuity in it. Suryakumar said that the T20 World Cup is still a few months away.
“We don’t want to make too many changes in terms of the combination. The focus is on what kind of cricket we want to play,” Suryakumar said.
He further added, “We have to play 10 T20 matches against two quality opponents before the World Cup, so the immediate focus is on those matches. As we get closer to the tournament, we will gradually shift our focus completely to the T20 World Cup.”
Hardik Pandya returns to India’s T20 team after recovering from injury.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been included in the team after returning from injury. He was out of international cricket after suffering a quadricep injury during the Asia Cup 2025 match against Sri Lanka. Pandya was ruled out of the Australia tour as well as the ODI series against South Africa.
After proving his fitness while playing for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he has rejoined the national team. Shubman Gill has also been included, but the selectors have made his participation dependent on medical clearance.
Gill is recovering from a neck injury that forced him out of the opening Test against South Africa and the rest of the red-ball and ODI matches. He has been appointed vice-captain for the T20Is.
India, which has dominated the T20 format throughout the year, will enter the series in exceptional form. They have won 13 of their 15 T20Is in 2025 and an impressive 26 of their last 30 matches.
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