NEW DELHI: The return of Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya brings a fresh spark and much-needed balance to India's lineup as the reigning T20 World Cup champions kick off their official preparations for the home tournament. Their journey begins with the first of a five-match T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday.

This series marks the start of a crucial build-up to February's T20 World Cup, with India set to play 10 matches ahead of the tournament - five against South Africa, followed by another five against New Zealand - before opening their title defence against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium on February 7.

India's home T20I record against South Africa isn't what you had expected

As defending champions, India aim to use this phase to sharpen their strategies, fine-tune combinations, and finalise the playing XI that will carry the hopes of the home crowd into the World Cup.

India have remained a dominant force in T20Is since their World Cup triumph last year, during which they won eight consecutive matches to claim the title. Since then, they have added to their impressive record, amassing 26 wins against just four losses, including a seven-match winning streak en route to their Asia Cup victory in Dubai.

Having remained unbeaten in T20I series during this period, India will look to make only minor adjustments as they aim to fine-tune their game ahead of facing the same South African side they overcame in last year's T20 World Cup final.

Shubman Gill fit again, arrives in Bhubaneswar ahead of IND vs SA 1st T20I

Gill returns to the squad after missing nearly a month of cricket due to a neck spasm sustained while attempting a slog sweep in the opening Test against South Africa. With continuous cricket since the last IPL and a busy season ahead for India, his workload will be carefully managed.

For Gill, who has amassed 837 runs in 33 T20Is at an average of 29.89, this series also serves as crucial preparation ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.

His reunion with Abhishek Sharma brings back a high-impact opening pair that marries brute force with clean, classical strokeplay. Abhishek, fresh from a standout tour of Australia where he topped India's scoring charts with 163 runs in the 2-1 victory, has been in monstrous domestic touch.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, the Punjab left-hander hammered 304 runs at an average of 50.66 and a staggering strike rate of 249-plus, including a breathtaking 52-ball 148 against Bengal as Punjab posted 310/5.

Pandya comeback

Hardik Pandya's comeback is equally significant.

Out for more than two months after a quadricep injury during the Asia Cup, the all-rounder marked his return in style with a 42-ball 77 not out for Baroda in the SMAT before bowling four overs at full tilt for 1/52.

He arrived here a day ahead of the squad, trained solo at the Barabati Stadium, bowled for 20 minutes and went through an extended physical routine.

His presence not only deepens India's batting but restores the balance of a bowling attack built heavily on flexibility.

SKY's form

One of the central conversations ahead of the series has been skipper Suryakumar Yadav's prolonged lean patch.

The contrast between his dazzling IPL 2025, where he amassed 717 runs for Mumbai Indians, and his underwhelming T20I returns have been striking.

Since taking over as full-time T20I captain in July last year, his form has dipped to an average of 15.33 with 184 runs in 15 innings, he has not scored a fifty in the last 20 games, and his strike rate has reduced to 127.77 from the 187-plus he clocked in 2022.

Even in the SMAT this season, he failed to reach a fifty, scoring 165 runs from five matches.

Any drastic move before the World Cup looks unlikely, but the next 10 T20Is will add fodder to conversations surrounding both his form and captaincy.

Sanju v Jitesh

The wicketkeeper-batter debate -- Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma -- remains equally tantalising.

India's handling of the pair during the Australia series raised eyebrows, with Samson batting only once, promoted to No. 3, before Jitesh was backed for the last three T20Is.

Since India's World Cup triumph, Samson has been the team's third-highest run-getter, flourishing as an opener with three centuries, including two in South Africa. But Gill's return as vice-captain pushed Samson down the order into a role he rarely occupies in T20 cricket.

In the recent SMAT, Samson looked in excellent touch with two fifties, two 40s and a 56-ball 73 not out against Andhra, while Jitesh managed modest returns for Baroda with a top score of 41 from six outings.

SA notes

South Africa, for their part, welcome back tearaway pacer Anrich Nortje for his first international appearance since last year's T20 World Cup final.

Marco Jansen's evolution as a genuine all-rounder adds heft to the visitors; his blistering 93 in the Guwahati Test and 70 off 39 balls in Ranchi underscored a renewed authority with the bat to go with his established potency with the ball.

Veteran left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also returns to the white-ball fold, though the Proteas will sorely miss star batter Tony de Zorzi and young fast bowler Kwena Maphaka, both ruled out of the five-match series due to injury.

Teams (from):

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottineil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donnovan Ferreria, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.

Match Starts: 7pm IST.

(With PTI Inputs)