Indian all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy are available for India’s upcoming T20 International series. Krunal Pandya is also in the selection mix after Axar Patel’s poor returns in the recent
series against Ireland and England. Both Pandya and Reddy have been training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and are operating at full capacity after extended spells of rehabilitation and recovery work. According to the latest reports from Times of India, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar are expected to finalise the squad this week for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan that begins in mid-September in New Delhi.
India’s white-ball setup has suffered fitness issues around Hardik for several seasons. The all-rounder’s ability to deliver late-order batting and medium overs remains highly valued yet his absence has often forced the team to adjust balance. Nitish Kumar Reddy, the young Andhra all-rounder, has been positioned as a natural option in that same role. He offers the dual option lower-order batting and medium-pace bowling and was excellent in the recent IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. This is a huge advantage for India that both these players could return for the upcoming series and they will add more power to the side.
Krunal Pandya likely to make T20I comeback
Indian left arm spinner Axar Patel’s recent form with the ball has not been good. In his last six T20Is, including the Ireland and England tours, the left-arm spinner managed only four wickets. Conditions in those countries did not heavily help spin yet the numbers have not been good enough. Due to his poor form, Krunal Pandya who last played a T20I for India in 2021 has forced his way back into the side through consistent domestic and IPL performances. The 35-year-old finished the 2026 IPL season with 14 wickets and 226 runs at a strike rate of 145-plus for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His experience and ability to contribute with both bat and left-arm spin make him a viable option for the spin-bowling all-rounder slot.
Krunal’s IPL numbers this year showed control and impact even on pitches that demanded variations. His previous 19 T20Is for India bring experience along with his IPL matches. Washington Sundar is also closing in on fitness clearance and could feature in the same series, further increasing the competition for spin and all-round spots. The selection committee’s meeting this week will therefore give a lot of views on how the Indian side will look going forward.
Hardik and Nitish being fully available removes one layer of uncertainty that has shaped recent squads. Krunal’s presence in the mix signals that the selectors are prepared to look beyond the current first-choice group when recent performances invite a second look. The Afghanistan T20Is will be the first real chance to see how these options settle into the XI and how the balance shifts of the team remains once Hardik, Nitish and Krunal are all in the side. This is a crucial series for India with the Asian Games, and further series against the West Indies scheduled later on.
