Hardik Pandya omitted from India ODI and T20I squads for West Indies tour

On September 16, 2026, Hardik Pandya was not included in India’s ODI and T20I squads announced for the West Indies tour of India, with the ODI leg due to start on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.

India are preparing for a busy home season that will feature both ODIs and T20Is against the West Indies; the second ODI is scheduled for September 30 in Guwahati and the final ODI on October 3 in New Chandigarh. Selectors are treating the series as part of India’s core building ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup and have been monitoring the fitness of several senior players closely.

Pandya’s absence from both the ODI and T20I lists was notable because he had been expected to attempt a comeback via the ODI series following a prolonged injury layoff. The omission prompted surprise among observers who had anticipated his return to the main squad for the home series.

The all-rounder has not played competitive cricket since IPL 2026 owing to those injuries. Selectors, according to the reports, were assessing whether Pandya would be able to bowl a full quota of 10 overs and field for the duration required in a 50-over match.

Hardik was named in the India A squad for the upcoming one-day series against Australia A, which is due to start on September 20, and the original expectation was that he would rejoin the main team only after that assignment. That India A selection remains his immediate confirmed playing engagement.

The official reason for Pandya’s omission from the senior squads has not been disclosed by the selectors. Reports in Dainik Jagran stated that he is still not completely fit and that he is unable to bowl more than six overs in a match, which the report said could explain his non-selection for the national sides.

The India squads named for the West Indies tour are: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (VC), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Naman Dhir.

Pandya’s next scheduled involvement is the India A one-day series against Australia A beginning September 20; India’s senior ODI series versus the West Indies will commence on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, with matches in Guwahati on September 30 and New Chandigarh on October 3.