Samson and Bumrah return, Hardik unavailable for T20I series vs Afghanistan in Delhi

Hardik Pandya’s return to the Indian T20I squad has been delayed yet again as the star all-rounder failed to make it through the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi. Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah return to the side, with his availability subject to fitness.

Shreyas Iyer will continue to lead the team and Tilak Varma will work as his deputy. Like Bumrah, the participation of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana will also depend on their fitness and clearance to play.

Samson is back in the team after missing the Zimbabwe series alongside Varun Chakravarthy. The spinner suffered a hamstring injury during the England tour and was at the BCCI Center of Excellence along with Bumrah, Harshit and Hardik among others to get back to full fitness.

INDIAN SQUAD FOR AFGHANISTAN SERIES

Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harashiep Sysprit, Ari Buesh, Jasprit.

*Depending on condition

HARDIK PANDYA IS SUFFERING A FRESH Slump

Hardik last played for India during this year’s FIFA World Cup T20 final and his last appearance on the field came for Mumbai Indians during IPL 2026 on 24 May. He was initially selected for India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan at home, but a leg strain forced him to withdraw from the team.

The injury also ruled him out of India’s subsequent white-ball missions in Ireland and England, where the team played a total of eight T20Is and three ODIs. Since the initial injury setback, the all-rounder has been seen working hard at the BCCI Center Of Excellence to get back to full fitness.

According to a report from Times Of India, Hardik suffered a leg injury before the team announcement. The Indian all-rounder has returned to full fitness and has been training intensively at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. However, the latest niggle forced him to postpone bowling.

The series against Afghanistan, which is considered an away match, will start on September 13 and will continue till September 17.

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Published on:

01 Sep 2026 17:33 IST