Hardik Pandya on comeback tour for India Call-up to Australian A series
Senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya has taken a major step towards a return to competitive cricket after being named in the India A squad for the upcoming one-day series against Australia A, following fitness clearance.
The BCCI men’s selection committee on Wednesday announced the separate India A squads for the home series against Australia A, which consists of two multi-day matches and three one-day matches, all to be played in Puducherry.
Pandya has been included in the 15-member one-day squad which will be led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal will be named vice-captain.
PANDYA INJURY POINTS
The 32-year-old Pandya has been hampered by a series of injuries in recent months. He missed four matches during the 2026 IPL after suffering back spasms, then sat out India’s home series against Afghanistan because of a quadriceps strain. A fresh leg injury later interrupted his recovery and prevented him from regaining full fitness.
However, his selection for the India A side offers a potential route back into competitive action, with the BCCI making his participation conditional on fitness clearance.
The three-match one-day series against Australia A is scheduled for October 6, 9 and 11, giving Pandya an opportunity to test his fitness and form in preparation for future international engagements in India.
The India A series will begin with two multi-day matches scheduled on September 22 and September 29 in Puducherry. The red-ball match will be followed by three 50-over matches at the same venue.
Padikkal will captain the multi-day team with Sai Sudharsan named as his deputy. Sudharsan was included after recovering from a leg injury, The team also features several up-and-coming homegrown artists including Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboja.
The one-day side, meanwhile, has a strong mix of established household names and emerging talent. Gaikwad will lead the team comprising of Sudharsan, Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Kumar Kushagra and Prabhsimran Singh.
PANDYA’S COMEBACK?
Pandya’s inclusion is likely to attract the most attention, given his long absence and importance to India’s white-ball plans. The all-rounder remains one of India’s most valuable players across the limited-overs formats and a successful comeback in the India A series could give him the competitive edge needed to regain full rhythm.
Interestingly, the India A series overlaps with the Indian senior team’s ODI series against the West Indies, with the national side scheduled for three matches on 27 September, 30 September and 3 October.
However, Pandya will immediately focus on completing the required fitness tests and making himself available for Australia’s A-series. If he does, the Puducherry one-dayers could mark the start of his long-awaited return to the field.
IND-A vs AUS-A PROGRAM
- September 22 – 1st Multi-Day Match in Puducherry
- September 29 – 2nd Multi-Day Match in Puducherry
- October 6 – 1 ODI in Puducherry
- October 9 – 2 ODI in Puducherry
- October 11 – 3 ODI in Puducherry
IND-A SQUAD DETAILS
India Multiday Team: Devdutt Padikkal (C), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan Bhukte (WK), Vyshadeesan (WK).
India One Day Unit: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Devdutt Padikkal (VC), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya, Prabhsimran Singh, Japneting (WK), Thashkurrh (WK), Gushkurr.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
09 Sep 2026 15:47 IST