Krunal Pandya hopeful of India return after T20 squad reveal

Indian allrounder Krunal Pandya expressed optimism about a future return to the national team after being left out of the squad for the upcoming T20 series against Afghanistan. The 35-year-old, who last played for India in 2021, posted a message on his Instagram account reading "Hope is still alive" shortly after the squad was announced on September 1, 2026. The three-match series is scheduled to begin on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi, with subsequent matches on September 15 and 17. The squad, captained by Shreyas Iyer, includes a blend of experienced players and emerging talent. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the squad, subject to fitness clearance, after missing recent assignments due to an impact injury sustained during a one-day international in England on July 16. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana are also included pending fitness clearance. Krunal's omission comes despite strong performances in the 2026 Indian Premier League, where he played a significant role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's consecutive title wins. He took 14 wickets and scored 226 runs in nine innings for the franchise.