Hardik Pandya set for T20I return: Underperformers he can replace in India's squad vs SA

Hardik Pandya set for T20I comeback [Source: AFP Photo]

There is some good news for India as Hardik Pandya, the star all-rounder who has been out for a while, is likely to make his return in the T20I series against South Africa. According to the reports, he has been cleared by the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to bowl and the player will take part in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) to prove his fitness.

If Hardik, who has been nursing an injury, indeed makes his return for the T20I series, a couple of players might have to make way to incorporate the all-rounder in the squad. Here are 3 such players who could be dropped from the team if Hardik returns.

1) Nitish Kumar Reddy

• Nitish Kumar Reddy was touted as India’s future and Hardik’s replacement after his brilliant Test ton at MCG last year. He also had a couple of impactful performances in the T20I series prior to the BGT, but since the start of 2025, luck has not been with him as the player has been injured, and he also missed the last T20I series against the Aussies.
• Unlike others on the list, Nitish Reddy’s exclusion won’t be on the basis of his performances, but due to the superior skills Hardik brings in, only one of the two players can be drafted in the squad, and that player has to be Hardik.
• Hardik can play as a finisher, a role that Nitish Reddy can’t do; moreover, he can give India four solid overs, again, something which Nitish has not done for India. Hence, purely on the basis of skills, Hardik should replace Nitish.

2) Rinku Singh

• For some reason, a talented batter like Rinku Singh is unable to find a place in the playing XI despite doing well in the IPL. He travels with the squad, but in important matches, the team leaves him out of the playing XI in order to incorporate a plethora of all-rounders.
• Moreover, in 2025, he has only played in five T20Is, and the stats reveal the sorry state of affairs.

(Rinku Singh T20I stats in 2025)

• This year, India has played a handful of T20I games, and Rinku was only a part of five of those. Moreover, his numbers reveal that the batter has struggled for runs, and the strike rate of 130 doesn’t justify his place. Hence, if Hardik is back, Rinku could also be the player who gets the axe.
• Gautam Gambhir loves all-rounders in the squad, and Hardik's dual role (batting and bowling) gives him advantage over Rinku, who only bats.

3) Axar Patel

Unlike 2024, where Axar Patel played a pivotal part in India’s T20 World Cup triumph, the ongoing year has been rough for him in terms of run-scoring and wicket-taking.

He has played 17 matches in 2025, but the impact has certainly been less as compared to 2024 and the numbers reveal his downfall in terms of wickets and batting strike rate.

(Axar in T20Is in 2025)

• The batting strike rate has gone down in the last year. In 2024, he used to strike at 137, but in 2025 the number dipped to 124. Moreover, in 2024, he scalped 20 wickets, while this year, he has only racked up 14.
• There could be a toss-up between him and Washington Sundar, and judging by the recent preference, Sundar has received, it could be read that Axar might be added to the list of players who get dropped in case Hardik makes his T20I return.
• Spin won't be a major factor in Indian conditions, especially with dew on offer, and Hardik offers superior batting ability as compared to Axar.

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