"Nothing to do with where he's at physically" - India coach dismisses concerns over Hardik Pandya's fitness after 2nd IND vs SA 2025 T20I

Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has downplayed any concerns over all-rounder Hardik Pandya's fitness. He attributed Pandya's reduced bowling workload in the ongoing T20Is against South Africa to conditions as well as the team combination.

South Africa beat India by 51 runs in the second T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday, December 11. Sent into bat, the Proteas put up a huge total of 213-4 on the board and then bowled out India for 162 to level the five-match series 1-1.

The T20I series marked Pandya's return to international cricket after a short break due to an injury he suffered during the Asia Cup earlier this year. The 32-year-old has not completed his full quota of four overs in either of the two T20Is played so far. He bowled two overs in Cuttack and three overs in Mullanpur. Asked if this had anything to do with Pandya's fitness, Ten Doeschate asserted:

"It's got nothing to do with where he's at physically. We are very happy with where he's at physically. In the Asia Cup, he was taking the new ball. Obviously, the combination there was different. We were playing three spinners and two out-and-out seamers. For this series and the conditions we are facing, we are playing two seamers who are obviously going to take the new ball."

Pandya registered figures of 1-16 from two overs in Cuttack and 0-34 from three overs in Mullanpur. He was the Player of the Match in the first T20I for clobbering 59* off just 28 balls.

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"Surya had a hunch that Axar could be dangerous" - Ten Doeschate on India's powerplay bowling in Mullanpur

While Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh opened the bowling for the hosts in the second T20I, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel bowled the last two overs of the powerplay. Chakaravarthy got a wicket with his first ball, but Axar went for 12 runs in his opening over. Asked about the decision to bring in the spinners before Pandya, Ten Doeschate explained:

"Varun's been very good at the backend of powerplays. In Cuttack and here tonight, Surya had a hunch that Axar could be dangerous in the powerplay. It's nice to know we have an extra option. We've now got four guys who can bowl in the powerplay. Hardik has bowled nicely and smartly in both the games."

With the five-match series tied 1-1, both India and South Africa will be hoping to take the crucial lead in the third T20I, which will be played in Dharamsala on December 14.