Hardik Pandya Named in India A Squad for Australia A One-Day Series

India allrounder Hardik Pandya has been included in the India A squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, subject to fitness clearance.

The matches are scheduled for October 6, 9 and 11, with the series providing Pandya an opportunity to return to 50-over cricket after a lengthy period away from the format.

Pandya was last in action during the IPL 2026 season and has since spent much of his time undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The allrounder missed part of Mumbai Indians’ IPL campaign because of back spasms before suffering a leg strain during training at the CoE.

The injury forced Pandya to miss India’s ODI series against Afghanistan in June. He has not played an ODI since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025, having subsequently rested from the format ahead of the T20 World Cup in early 2026.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup scheduled to be played in October and November, Pandya remains an important part of India’s long-term plans. His ability to contribute with both bat and seam bowling makes him particularly valuable for conditions in Southern Africa, where the next World Cup will be staged.

The Australia A series is expected to be an important step in assessing Pandya’s fitness and helping him regain his rhythm in 50-over cricket.

Strong India A One-Day Squad

The one-day squad features several established names alongside Pandya. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the side, with Devdutt Padikkal serving as vice-captain.

The batting group includes Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar and wicketkeeper-batters Kumar Kushagra and Prabhsimran Singh.

Allrounders Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan and Naman Dhir are also part of the squad, while Gurjapneet Singh and Yash Thakur provide additional pace options.

India A to Play Two Four-Day Games First

The Australia A tour will begin with two unofficial four-day Tests in Puducherry. The first is scheduled from September 22 to 25, followed by the second from September 29 to October 2.

Devdutt Padikkal will captain India A in the four-day matches, with Sai Sudharsan named vice-captain.

The four-day squad has several notable absences because the series clashes with the Irani Cup, scheduled from October 1 to 5, and the Asian Games T20 tournament, which runs from September 24 to October 3.

Among the players selected for the four-day squad, Anshul Kamboj, Tanush Kotian and N Jagadeesan are the only other members to have featured in recent India squads.

Reddy and Washington Cleared to Return

Meanwhile, allrounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have received clearance from BCCI medical staff to return to competitive cricket after recovering from injuries.

Reddy missed India’s recent white-ball tours of Ireland and England because of a quadriceps injury, while Washington was sidelined from the recent two-Test series in Sri Lanka due to a hamstring problem.

Both players have been selected for India’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, which begins on September 13, subject to fitness clearance.

The fitness status of fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, who have also been selected pending clearance, remains uncertain.

India A One-Day Squad

Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya (subject to fitness clearance), Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur.