Krunal Pandya in contention for India T20I squad for Afghanistan series

Reports in the Times of India say the Indian selection committee is considering Krunal Pandya for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan starting September 13. The discussions follow Pandya’s recent performances in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Krunal has produced two strong seasons for RCB in the IPL and played key roles as the franchise won the last two editions. His bowling returns have improved to the point where he is described as no longer being a backup spinner, while his batting has produced match-winning contributions in tense situations for RCB.

Khel Now highlighted Pandya’s history as a big-stage performer and compared him to Hardik Pandya, noting he has “always been a big-match player.” The piece points to a unique IPL finals record: he is the only player to have been named man of the match in two IPL finals, in 2017 for Mumbai Indians and in 2025 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The article notes Pandya’s batting power and flexibility, saying he can clear the boundaries and bat at any position to provide the side with a cushion. It records his T20 career strike rate as over 130 and cites his international hitting — 58* off 31 on his ODI debut and 21* off 9 on his T20I debut for India.

On the bowling front, Khel Now reports that Pandya is not a big turner of the ball and therefore needed to add variations, which he has worked on. Unlike at his previous franchise, he has taken on the role of leading spinner for RCB, has bowled effectively at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, can open the bowling, vary his pace, and uses a left-arm angle combined with accuracy.

The article also references the wider selection context, saying Axar Patel was below average on the UK tour and that the selection committee is exploring other backup options. If the committee includes him, it would mark Pandya’s return to T20 internationals after his last appearance against Sri Lanka on July 25, 2021; his first T20I for India was in November 2018 against West Indies.

According to the reports, the immediate implication is a potential call-up for the T20I series against Afghanistan beginning September 13, which, if confirmed, would bring Pandya back into India’s T20I setup after more than five years away from that format.