Cricket / Suryakumar Yadav Confirms Fitness of Hardik, Gill Ahead of Barabati Clash
·3 months ago·2 min read
Key Points
- Suryakumar Yadav says India’s T20 preparations began soon after the 2024 World Cup.
- Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are fully fit ahead of the South Africa opener.
- Barabati hosts its first international match on a red-soil pitch amid heavy security.
Cuttack, Dec 8: Ahead of the T20I Series opener against South Africa, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team has already begun preparing with the next World Cup in mind.
“Our preparations started right after the T20 World Cup-2024. We did not make major changes in the T20 squad unless necessary,” he told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
Suryakumar, who has earlier played both IPL and domestic cricket at Barabati, said he is familiar with the ground’s conditions. “I have had a good experience here. The pitch behaves differently, but we adapted well as per the conditions,” he added. He also confirmed that Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are fully fit and available for selection.
Teams Train at Barabati; Heavy Crowd Expected
Both India and South Africa practiced at the Barabati Stadium on Monday ahead of the high-profile opener, which is set to draw over 45,000 spectators. On Sunday, Hardik Pandya was the only Indian player to travel for an additional net session.
For the first time, Barabati will host an international match on a red-soil pitch, with practice strips near the clock tower also prepared using the same soil to aid players’ adaptation.
Tight Security and Match-Day Arrangements
Both teams are staying at the Mayfair Hotel under strict security. Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner had conducted a detailed briefing for officers on match-day responsibilities, focusing on crowd management and player safety.
A total of 50 platoons of police and over 300 officers have been deployed. Security has been tightened along the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack route, supplemented by VIP protection teams. A dedicated traffic plan is in place to ensure smooth movement for teams and officials.
Also Read: Petrol Price Rises in Bhubaneswar as Odisha Witnesses Mixed Trend
Team Composition
The series marks the return of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill after injury layoffs. Except for Hardik’s comeback replacing Nitish Reddy, the squad remains largely unchanged from the recent Australia series, with Suryakumar Yadav continuing as captain.
“Our preparations started right after the T20 World Cup-2024. We did not make major changes in the T20 squad unless necessary,” he told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
Suryakumar, who has earlier played both IPL and domestic cricket at Barabati, said he is familiar with the ground’s conditions. “I have had a good experience here. The pitch behaves differently, but we adapted well as per the conditions,” he added. He also confirmed that Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill are fully fit and available for selection.
Teams Train at Barabati; Heavy Crowd Expected
Both India and South Africa practiced at the Barabati Stadium on Monday ahead of the high-profile opener, which is set to draw over 45,000 spectators. On Sunday, Hardik Pandya was the only Indian player to travel for an additional net session.
For the first time, Barabati will host an international match on a red-soil pitch, with practice strips near the clock tower also prepared using the same soil to aid players’ adaptation.
Tight Security and Match-Day Arrangements
Both teams are staying at the Mayfair Hotel under strict security. Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner had conducted a detailed briefing for officers on match-day responsibilities, focusing on crowd management and player safety.
A total of 50 platoons of police and over 300 officers have been deployed. Security has been tightened along the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack route, supplemented by VIP protection teams. A dedicated traffic plan is in place to ensure smooth movement for teams and officials.
Also Read: Petrol Price Rises in Bhubaneswar as Odisha Witnesses Mixed Trend
Team Composition
The series marks the return of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill after injury layoffs. Except for Hardik’s comeback replacing Nitish Reddy, the squad remains largely unchanged from the recent Australia series, with Suryakumar Yadav continuing as captain.
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