"No Problem In Selecting The Squad Even If Hardik Pandya Isn't There.."- Suryakumar Yadav

Hardik Pandya has been away from the team due to his ankle injury. He missed the Australia T20I series at home and will also miss the series against South Africa. The series continues India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup.

In Hardik Pandya’s absence, India’s problems of finding the sixth bowling option against Australia were on show. India did not play the likes of Shivam Dube or Washington Sundar in the series. Both are all-rounders and could have been used as the sixth-bowling option. Sundar has been retained for the South Africa series.

India will play six more matches after the South Africa series and have several matches to try out the sixth bowling option. Addressing the press conference ahead of the first T20I, SKY said that the sixth bowling option will be tried as and when the time comes.

“We do have a sixth-bowling option. There are lots of people to bowl. When the time is right, you will see. Not just six, there could be seven or eight too” Suryakumar said.

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Don’t Think Sixth Bowling Option Will Be An Issue: Suryakumar Yadav

He further asserted that India are not too worried over their sixth bowling option adding that the IPL 2024 season precedes the World Cup which will also give the selectors time to take their call.

“I feel there are limited T20s going forward, before the T20 World Cup, but then we play 14 league games in the IPL as well. And players who have been playing in these T20 internationals… they’ve played a lot of games, and they have a lot of experience under their belt. So, we don’t think there will be an issue or any problem in selecting the squad because everyone knows their roles really well and responsibilities really well – [like] how to play in different situations” Suryakumar said further.

India play the first T20I against South Africa on December 10 in Durban. The second and third T20I will be held in Gqeberha (December 12) and Johannesburg (December 14) respectively.

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