Speculation surrounds Shubman Gill’s fitness as the Indian selection committee prepares to meet in Raipur to select the squad for the T20 International series against South Africa. The series begins on December 9, and the selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, will finalize the 15-player roster. Gill has been sidelined since suffering a neck injury in the Test match against South Africa in Kolkata. He has since been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, including a stint at the BCCI’s high-performance center in Bengaluru. His participation in the T20 series is currently considered a toss-up. With the team set to assemble on December 6, the selectors face a critical decision on Wednesday. Should Gill be unavailable, potential opening partners for Abhishek Sharma include Sanju Samson, who has played in the recent T20Is against Australia, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, a promising young talent. The selectors are also expected to bring back all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has shown strong form upon his return from injury in domestic cricket. Pandya’s performance and the overall squad composition will provide clues about the team’s long-term plans for the T20 World Cup. The five-match T20I series will span across multiple Indian cities, starting in Cuttack.
