Hardik Pandya’s entry into the Indian T20I team has been postponed once again as he has not been included in the roster for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi. Despite the absence of Pandya, the squad sees the return of two significant players, Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah, with Bumrah’s selection contingent upon his fitness.

Shreyas Iyer remains the captain of the team with Tilak Varma serving as the vice-captain. The participation of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana is also subject to their fitness and medical clearance ahead of the matches.

Samson’s reintroduction comes after his absence during the recent series against Zimbabwe, where he was unable to play alongside fellow teammate Varun Chakravarthy, who suffered a hamstring injury on tour in England. Chakravarthy, Bumrah, and Rana were present at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, focusing on regaining their full fitness prior to this series.

Details of the Upcoming Series

The T20I series against Afghanistan is scheduled to begin on 13 September and will continue until 17 September. This series is perceived as an away assignment for India, with all matches to be held in Delhi. The squad has been announced to include notable players aimed at securing victories against the Afghan side.

The official Indian squad for the series comprises Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana**, all selected pending fitness evaluations.

Key highlights have emerged from the squad announcement, notably the return of Sanju Samson after his absence from the Zimbabwe tour as well as concerns regarding Hardik Pandya, who has allegedly sustained a new leg injury during his rehabilitation process in Bengaluru.

Fitness Concerns for Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya last represented India in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, with his most recent game being for the Mumbai Indians on 24 May 2026. He was initially part of India’s ODI series against Afghanistan, but a leg strain resulted in his withdrawal from the squad.

This leg injury further sidelined Pandya from subsequent white-ball matches in Ireland and England, where India played a total of eight T20Is and three ODIs. Since sustaining his initial injury, he had been committed to rigorous training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence to achieve optimal fitness levels.

Reports indicate that Hardik experienced a leg niggle just before the official squad announcement, despite having previously trained intensely to return to full fitness in Bengaluru. The latest setback has compelled him to pause his bowling practice while there was no mention of Hardik in the BCCI’s press release regarding the squad, nor was any timeline provided for his return.

Concerns have been raised regarding the management of player fitness at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, especially following Hardik’s recent setbacks. His prolonged stay in Bengaluru has led to questions about the effectiveness of the communication among sports science teams and the selection committee, particularly in light of past issues with Jasprit Bumrah’s injury status.

As it stands, the BCCI is operating without a permanent head of sports science since Nitin Patel’s departure. Interim sports science leader Dhananjay Kaushik is currently managing the department amidst these concerns, with scrutiny surrounding the established rehabilitation protocols for injured players.

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