Krunal Pandya, the Indian all-rounder, shared a hopeful message on social media regarding his potential return to the national team after the announcement of the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
Despite media speculation suggesting he might be included in the team for the matches in Delhi, he was ultimately not selected. The spin all-rounder positions are filled by Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, the latter’s inclusion depending on his fitness, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi are designated as specialist bowlers. On his Instagram, Krunal expressed, “Hope is still alive,” accompanied by a fingers-crossed emoji and the Indian flag.
Krunal Pandya’s Performance Overview
Krunal last played for India in 2021, participating in five matches and four innings, where he accumulated 130 runs with an impressive average of 65.00 and a strike rate of 101.56, including one half-century with a top score of 58*. He has also claimed two wickets in this format. In total, he has represented India in 19 T20Is, scoring 124 runs across 10 innings at an average of 24.80 and a strike rate of 130.52, with his best score being 26* and taking 15 wickets at an average of 36.93, achieving best bowling figures of 4/36.
Krunal Pandya’s IPL Achievements
During the IPL 2026 season, Krunal regained his batting form, playing a pivotal role in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s consecutive title victories. He scored 226 runs in nine innings, averaging 37.66 with a strike rate of 145.80, including a fifty and a highest score of 73. Additionally, he took 14 wickets at an average of 30.35, with best figures of 2/16. In the previous season, he was instrumental in RCB’s first IPL championship, earning the ‘Player of the Match’ title in the final for his bowling performance of 2/17 in four overs, which was crucial in defending a target of 191 runs. He finished as RCB’s second-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 15 matches, averaging 22.29, and scored 109 runs in seven innings at an average of 18.16 and a strike rate of 126.74, with a top score of 73*.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Return to the Squad
Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is set to return to the squad, pending fitness clearance, alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana. Bumrah’s last appearance for India was against England on July 16 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. He was later ruled out of the final ODI at Lord’s due to an impact injury sustained while fielding in Cardiff. His absence also extended to India’s Test series against Sri Lanka, which India lost 1-0.
Details of the Upcoming Series
The T20I series is scheduled to commence on September 13, with the second match on September 15 and the final match on September 17. All three games will take place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi. This series is part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Program and will be hosted in India, where Afghanistan has played its home matches in recent years.
Breakdown of India’s Squad
The Indian squad features a blend of seasoned players and emerging talents in the top order, including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan. The middle order comprises captain Shreyas Iyer, vice-captain Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube. India has selected three all-rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, while Varun Chakravarthy will lead the spin attack alongside Ravi Bishnoi. The pace department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, with Harshit Rana adding depth with his effective cutters.