Hardik Pandya is all set to make his return to competitive cricket next month (in October). The 32-year-old all-rounder, who was last seen in action during the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, has been included in India A’s squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A. However, his participation in the matches is subject to his fitness.
The BCCI announced the India A squads for the upcoming white-ball and red-ball matches on Wednesday and named Devdutt Padikkal as captain for the two unofficial Tests in Puducherry. The left-handed batter from Karnataka, who scored back-to-back centuries in Sri Lanka last month, has also been rewarded with a place in the one-day squad and will serve as Ruturaj Gaikwad’s deputy
in the three one-dayers.
Tamil Nadu’s left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan, who missed the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka due to injury, is part of the squad for the two unofficial Tests and will be Padikkal’s deputy.
Andhra’s Shaik Rasheed, Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj and Vidarbha’s Praful Hinge, who made a big name for himself in IPL 2026 while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, are also part of the red-ball team.
For the one-dayers, apart from Hardik, Gaikwad and Padikkal, Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Naman Dhir and Prabhsimran Singh have been included in the squad, along with Haryana all-rounder Nishant Sindhu, Uttar Pradesh’s Vipraj Nigam and Tamil Nadu’s Gurjapneet Singh.
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India A squad announced for home series against Australia A, comprising two multi-day matches and three one-day games in Puducherry.
Details 🔽https://t.co/qv3pB2OLhj pic.twitter.com/svfhQbnEoV
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 9, 2026
The two unofficial Tests between India A and Australia A will be played from September 22 to 25 and September 29 to October 2 in Puducherry. The same venue will host the three one-day matches on October 6, 9 and 11, respectively.
Schedule of India A vs Australia series
| DATE(S) | DAY(S) | MATCH | VENUE |
| September 22-25 | Tuesday-Friday | 1st unofficial Test | Puducherry |
| September 29-October 2 | Tuesday-Friday | 2nd unofficial Test | Puducherry |
| October 6 | Tuesday | 1st one day | Puducherry |
| October 9 | Friday | 2nd one day | Puducherry |
| October 11 | Sunday | 3rd one day | Puducherry |
India A multi-day squad: Devdutt Padikkal (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan (WK), Nachiket Bhute, Vijaykumar Vyshak*
India A one-day squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Devdutt Padikkal (VC), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya*, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur
