Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav believes India’s T20 formula will be stronger – thanks to the return of two well-known game-changers. On the eve of the first T20I against South Africa, the skipper termed the return of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill as “invaluable” and added that their presence gives India the perfect blueprint for next year’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Pandya, who returned from a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup, has already shown flashes of form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and was one of the first to hit the net on Sunday. Surya hailed the bowling all-rounder as the man who unlocks more combinations.
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“What you saw in the Asia Cup was when he opened the bowling with the new ball, he opened up a lot of options and combinations for us… that’s what he brings to the table and his experience is invaluable,” Surya said in Cuttack. “He thrives in big games and ICC and ACC events. His presence will definitely add a good balance.”Along with Hardik, India also got their vice-captain. Gill is making a comeback from a neck injury and is set to resume opening alongside Abhishek Sharma. Surya clarified that this call was not a demotion for Sanju Samson but a tactical choice.
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“Apart from the openers, everyone has to be very flexible,” he said. “We’ve given Sanju enough opportunities. He’s ready to bat anywhere from three to six. That’s a nice headache – one can open, the other can bat lower down the order and both can handle all the roles.”In true team spirit, Surya reiterated that India will not commit to fixed slots. The only certainties: openness and adaptability.“You can’t compare all-rounders to finishers,” he explained. “All the batsmen from 3 to 7 are capable of batting at any position. For example, you can see Tilak Verma batting at six. As you saw in Australia, Dube went at number three. It depends on the entry point.”His conclusion was simple — and ominous for opponents: “That’s more of the way the team looks. It looks good. It looks strong. So I’m very happy with it.”
