: India captain Suryakumar Yadav believes Hardik Pandya’s return will restore the tactical depth and balance that shaped the team’s Asia Cup surge when the world champions take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting Cuttack Tuesday.

The ace India seam-bowling all-rounder, who sustained a left quadriceps injury and missed the Asia Cup final, is fully fit and in fine form after making his comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

His timely return ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup has brought back the much-needed flexibility and balance, with his new-ball spells offering India the cushion to field three, even four spinners.

I think what you saw in the Asia Cup also, when he was bowling the new ball, he opened a lot of options, lot of combinations for us with respect to playi

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