Argus News - Hardik Pandya Trains Solo as India, South Africa Set for Nets on Monday

Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: Hardik Pandya was the only Indian player to travel for net practice on Sunday evening for the opening T20 International against South Africa at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium on December 9.

Players will train at Barabati on Monday ahead of the high-profile encounter, which is expected to draw over 45,000 spectators. For the first time, the stadium will feature a red-soil pitch prepared to international standards, with additional practice strips near the clock tower also made of red soil to help players adapt.

Both squads, including South African players arriving in batches, are staying at Mayfair Hotel under tight security.

Earlier, the Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner held a briefing for officers and staff on match-day arrangements, ensuring that crowd and player safety protocols were in place. The police, working under strict directives, have strengthened security along the route from Bhubaneswar to the stadium, coordinating with VIP protection teams to safeguard players during transit.

For the Barabati match, 50 police platoons and over 300 officers have been deployed, alongside a dedicated traffic management plan to facilitate smooth movement of teams and officials.

The series marks the return of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill to India’s T20 setup after injury layoffs. Most members from the recent Australia series have been retained, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the side. Nitish Reddy is the only squad change following Hardik’s comeback.

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Match-day preparations, including crowd management, stadium readiness, and security arrangements, are in their final stages. Tickets have been sold out, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling opener to the five-match T20I series.