Selectors weigh recall of Krunal Pandya to India T20I squad

Indian selectors are discussing a potential recall of Krunal Pandya to India’s T20I squad ahead of a three-match series against Afghanistan beginning on September 13 and subsequent T20I fixtures and the Asian Games in September-October 2026. Reports in the Times of India, cited by Khel Now, say Pandya’s name has surfaced in selection conversations.

India’s T20I setup is entering another phase of experimentation as the board assesses combinations to cope with a busy international schedule that includes the Afghanistan series, a T20I tour of the West Indies and the Asian Games. The left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder role has been an integral part of India’s T20I side over the last decade, and the retirement of Ravindra Jadeja saw Axar Patel emerge as a regular in that slot. A recent dip in Axar Patel’s performances has prompted selectors and team management to explore alternatives rather than rely on a single player.

The Times of India reports, as relayed by Khel Now, identify Krunal Pandya — aged 35 and last capped by India in 2021 — as a candidate under consideration. Pandya has made 19 appearances for India in T20 internationals and has been absent from international cricket for the past five years.

Pandya’s current form in the Indian Premier League is central to the recall argument. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he scored 335 runs across 31 appearances in two seasons and took 31 wickets in the last two seasons, doing so “at a remarkable economy,” according to the report.

Selectors value Pandya’s dual skillset: he is a left-arm orthodox spinner capable of containing batsmen in the middle overs and a useful lower-order batter. The existing view in selection discussions is that picking Pandya would provide another tactical option rather than automatically displacing Axar Patel from the XI.

Questions remain about his readiness after a prolonged international absence; Khel Now notes that his five-year gap from international cricket makes a comeback just ahead of the Asian Games a gamble. The report adds that selecting Pandya would create genuine competition for the left-arm spin role but would not in itself threaten Axar Patel’s India career.

No official announcement has been made yet on Pandya’s inclusion, and selectors are expected to finalise plans before the three-match series against Afghanistan beginning on September 13, followed by the T20I series against the West Indies and India’s participation at the Asian Games in September-October 2026.