Hardik Pandya Nears Historic T20I Milestone as Indian All-Rounder
Hardik Pandya, India’s standout all-rounder, is on the verge of a significant T20I milestone. As he prepares for a five-match series against South Africa starting December 9, 2023, he aims to achieve the remarkable feat of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 internationals.
Upcoming T20I Series Highlights
Pandya needs just 140 more runs to reach the 2,000-run mark in T20 internationals. Currently, he sits at 1,860 runs from 120 matches, boasting an average of 27.35 and a strike rate of 141.01. To add to his records, he requires only two more wickets to become the second Indian cricketer to take 100 wickets in T20Is.
Pandya’s Current Stats
- Matches: 120
- Total Runs: 1,860
- Average: 27.35
- Strike Rate: 141.01
- Half-Centuries: 5
- Wickets: 98
- Bowling Average: 26.58
Returning to the national team after recovering from a quadriceps injury, Pandya missed the title-winning final against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 and the subsequent Australian tour. He made a strong comeback by scoring 77 runs off 42 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which showcased his fitness level as he helped Baroda secure a thrilling victory over Punjab.
Series Schedule
The T20I series against South Africa includes matches in the following locations:
- Cuttack – December 9
- Mullanpur – December 11
- Dharamsala – December 14
- Lucknow – December 17
- Ahmedabad – December 19
Pandya’s presence in the team is vital as India gears up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. His performance in this series could be crucial for the team’s success.
India’s T20I Squad Against South Africa
- Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
- Shubman Gill (Vice-Captain, subject to fitness)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)
- Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper)
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Harshit Rana
- Washington Sundar
As the series approaches, anticipation builds around Pandya’s achievements and the overall performance of the Indian team in the T20 format.