Credit: X
Suryakumar Yadav-led the Indian team is set to play 5-match T20I series against South Africa, starting 9th December 2025. The likes of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya are back in action after missing the ODI series against the Proteas due to injury. With the T20 World Cup just 2 months away, the preparations are under full swing and the Indian team is trying to see the best possible combination as they enter the final stage of the preparations.
Since 2024 T20 World Cup victory, the Indian team has been able to dominate in the shortest format of the game, winning almost every series in the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, including the all-important Asia Cup. With the big series underway, the cricket pundits have given their best possible 11 for the 5-match series.
Former India cricketer, Harbhajan Singh picked his playing 11 for the T20I series against South Africa. He believes that Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah should play together. He also picked both Varun and Kuldeep in his playing 11, leaving Harshit Rana out of his playing 11.
"From this series, the face and the final combination of the Indian team will become visible. We'll see who the players are that'll remain in the 11. There might be a change or two, if the pitch is green, you might add an extra seamer. But otherwise, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep must play together because they are wicket-takers," said Harbhajan Singh.
"Jasprit Bumrah will definitely play and Arshdeep Singh also should, being India's highest wicket-taker. We don't talk much about him (Arshdeep) but he bowled the 19th over in the World Cup final. He has a great yorker with an equally good slower ball as well.
Here's the Playing 11 suggested by Harbhajan Singh for South Africa series
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
