Krunal Pandya's Absence from Afghanistan T20Is: Hope Still Alive

Krunal Pandya left out again, but three words say he isn’t done yet

NEW DELHI: The Afghanistan T20I squad dropped on Tuesday afternoon. A few big names were back, a few familiar ones were missing. One short message cut through the noise.

“Hope is still alive.”

Krunal Pandya didn’t need a press conference or a long statement. Just those four words on social media, posted soon after his name was missing from India’s squad for the three T20Is against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, 15 and 17.

At 35, with his last India appearance coming in the 2021 T20I series against Sri Lanka, many would quietly move on. Krunal clearly hasn’t.

A strong IPL, a closed door – for now

Krunal’s omission stings more because of what he did in IPL 2026. Turning out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he produced the kind of season that usually reopens international doors. Fourteen wickets, control through the middle overs, and the familiar value of a left-arm spinner who can bat.

It was enough, as reported earlier by TimesofIndia.com, to push him back into the selectors’ conversations after India’s recent T20I trips to Ireland and England. India have been searching for balance in that spin-bowling all-rounder slot, trialling options and shuffling combinations.

Axar Patel, long seen as the natural choice in that role, played all seven T20Is across those two series. The returns were modest: four wickets in total — two in the two games against Ireland, two more across four outings versus England. The selectors have now left him out of the Afghanistan series as well.

In that context, Krunal’s case had weight. Experience, form, a clear role. The door still didn’t open. His post made it clear he’s not treating this as the end of the road, just another bend in it.

Bumrah back, but with an asterisk

If Krunal’s absence was one story, Jasprit Bumrah’s name on the team sheet was another, bigger one.

India’s pace spearhead has been picked for the Afghanistan T20Is, but his return comes with a condition: fitness clearance. Bumrah has been out since suffering an impact injury to his knee during the ODI series in England. That setback forced him to miss the two-Test series in Sri Lanka, with the BCCI medical team putting him on rest.

His inclusion signals intent. India want their premier quick back in the T20I groove, but only if the medical staff sign off.

He’s not alone in that wait.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana have also been named subject to fitness. All three are working through Return to Play protocols after recent injuries.

Harshit Rana picked up a Grade 1 hamstring injury during the third T20I against England. Washington Sundar suffered a hamstring injury in the third ODI against the same opponents. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been recovering from an injury that had already ruled him out of India’s latest assignments.

The selectors have effectively chosen a squad with moving parts. The final XI for each game in Delhi will depend as much on the physio’s report as on form or tactics.

Hardik’s delay, Krunal’s wait

The Pandya name did appear in discussions, just not on the official list.

As reported earlier by TimesofIndia.com, Hardik Pandya’s comeback has been pushed back again. A late leg niggle at the BCCI Centre of Excellence derailed his plans, extending a layoff that began after his last outing for Mumbai Indians on May 24. His most recent game for India remains the T20 World Cup final on March 8.

So India head into this Afghanistan series without either Pandya brother.

For Hardik, it’s about rehab and timelines. For Krunal, it’s about patience and persistence.

The selectors have gone with a group led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain, and a blend of youth and experience around them: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana — the last three carrying that fitness caveat.

Three games in Delhi will shape careers, cement places, maybe close a few doors.

For Krunal Pandya, watching from the outside again, the message is already pinned. Hope, for now, really is still alive.