Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya presented the debut T20I cap to fellow all-rounder Ramandeep Singh ahead of the third T20I against South Africa on Wednesday, November 13, at Centurion’s SuperSport Park.
Ramandeep earned his place in the India squad following impressive performances in the IPL and domestic cricket.
The 27-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder has previously played in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
In his debut season with Mumbai in 2022, he took 6 wickets, though his batting didn’t stand out. However, in the 2024 IPL season with KKR, Ramandeep showcased his batting prowess, scoring 125 runs across 9 innings with a strike rate of 201.61 and an average of 31.25, contributing significantly to KKR’s title-winning campaign.
His impactful performance led KKR to retain him for the 2025 IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the match, VVS Laxman was seen handing Hardik Pandya an India cap, which Pandya then presented to Ramandeep.
Ramandeep, known for his all-round capabilities, adds depth to the squad and presents a direct competition to Pandya, as both offer similar skill sets.
Ramandeep replaced Avesh Khan in the playing XI for the match. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav explained at the toss that dropping Avesh was a tough decision but necessary to accommodate Ramandeep.
He said, “Avesh has done well for us, but one of the two bowlers had to make a sacrifice.”
In his career so far, Ramandeep has played 57 T20 matches, amassing 544 runs at a strike rate of 170 and taking 16 wickets, highlighting his potential as an all-rounder for India.