Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the star duo of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya are fully fit for the T20I series against South Africa. The Men in Blue will play the Proteas in a five-match affair, starting with the opener in Cuttack on December 9.Hardik suffered a quadriceps injury in the Sri Lanka clash ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup final and missed the summit clash against Pakistan. The all-rounder missed the subsequent white-ball tour of Australia before returning in the ongoing 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).Meanwhile, Gill suffered a neck injury in the recent home Test series against the Proteas. The skipper sustained the injury during the series opener in Kolkata, forcing him to miss the rest of the contest and the following second Test.Gill also missed the recently-concluded ODI series against South Africa, which India won 2-1.Addressing Hardik and Gill's fitness on the eve of the first T20I, Suryakumar said in the press conference (Via RevSportz):"Right now, both of them look healthy and fit. They are in the team."Gill and Hardik will almost certainly slot into the 11, with the former opening the batting and the latter batting in the lower middle-order."His presence will definitely give a good balance to the side" - Suryakumar Yadav on Hardik PandyaSuryakumar Yadav believes Hardik Pandya's presence will be a massive boost for the Indian side, thanks to his big-match experience and the balance he provides the side. The 32-year-old played a vital role in India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies and the USA.Hardik played a starring role in the final against South Africa, picking up three crucial wickets."That’s what (balance) he (Hardik) brings to the table. His experience, the way he has done really well in all the matches, all good games also, all bigger games, ICC events, all ACC events. I think that experience will count a lot. His presence will definitely give a good balance to the side," said Suryakumar Yadav (via the aforementioned source).The South African series will be India's penultimate T20I assignment before the home World Cup in February 2026. The defending world champions will take on New Zealand in another five-match T20I series at home before the marquee event.