All-rounder
Pandya, who operates as a left-arm spinner and middle-order batter, has been a consistent presence on the selectors' radar following a productive IPL 2026 campaign. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he claimed 14 wickets throughout the season, reinforcing his credentials as a versatile spin-bowling all-rounder. Despite this form, the selection committee opted to look elsewhere for the upcoming series, which is scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi between September 13 and 17.
Squad selection and fitness concerns
The squad announcement for the Afghanistan series brings with it several fitness-related caveats. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been named in the side, though his participation remains subject to medical clearance. Bumrah has been out of action since sustaining a knee injury during the ODI series in England, which subsequently forced him to miss the Test series in Sri Lanka.
Alongside Bumrah, three other players—Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana—have been included in the squad contingent on their recovery from recent injuries. All three are currently undergoing Return to Play protocols. Rana is managing a Grade 1 hamstring injury sustained during the third T20I against England, while Washington also dealt with a hamstring issue during the third ODI of the same tour. Reddy, meanwhile, has been working his way back from an injury that sidelined him for recent international assignments.
Hardik Pandya remains unavailable
The selection also confirmed the continued absence of Hardik Pandya, who has been ruled out following a late leg niggle encountered during his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Hardik has not featured in competitive cricket since his appearance for the Mumbai Indians on May 24, with his last international outing dating back to the T20 World Cup final on March 8.
The full squad for the series is led by captain Shreyas Iyer and includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. The series is set to provide a significant test for the side as they continue to evaluate their options in the T20 format.
