The Men’s Selection Committee has announced the India A squads for the upcoming home series against Australia A in Puducherry. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been out of action since the IPL 2026, is included in the limited-overs squad, but his availability is subject to fitness clearance.
Australia A will play two four-day matches and three one-day games against India A, with all five fixtures scheduled in Puducherry. The first four-day match will begin on September 22, followed by the second on September 29. The three unofficial ODIs will be played on October 6, 9, and 11 at the same venue.
Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad Named India A Captains; Hardik Pandya Returns
The bilateral series will begin with the first four-day match on September 22. The red-ball fixtures and three unofficial ODIs will take place in Puducherry.
Devdutt Padikkal will captain the India A multi-day squad, with Sai Sudharsan named his vice-captain. The red-ball squad also includes domestic performers such as Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra, Shams Mulani and Tushar Deshpande. Fast bowler V Vyshak has also been selected, subject to fitness clearance.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the India A one-day squad, while Padikkal will serve as his deputy. The limited-overs squad includes Rajat Patidar, Prabhsimran Singh and Naman Dhir. Hardik Pandya has also been included for the three one-day matches, subject to him clearing his fitness test.
India A Squads For Australia A Series
India A Multi-day squad: Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal [C], Sai Sudharsan [VC], Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, N Jagadeesan [WK], Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak*
India A One-Day squad: Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal [VC], Ruturaj Gaikwad [C], Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra [WK], Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya*, Prabhsimran Singh [WK], Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur
Hardik Pandya’s Injury Problems Continue to Delay His Return
Hardik Pandya has been away from competitive cricket since IPL 2026 due to injury and fitness concerns. He missed four matches for Mumbai Indians during the tournament because of back spasms and later suffered a quadricep strain during his rehabilitation, further delaying his return to the Indian team.
Pandya played 10 matches in IPL 2026 and scored 206 runs at a strike rate of 138.25. With the ball, the all-rounder managed only four wickets while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.42.
The all-rounder was also unavailable for the home ODI series against Afghanistan in June and the white-ball series in England in July. His absence has continued to affect India’s plans in the white-ball formats.
He was expected to return for the T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi but picked up a fresh leg niggle while training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and missed out on selection.
Injuries have been a recurring problem for Pandya over the past few years and have also affected his chances of taking over as India’s full-time T20I captain. India had looked towards Nitish Kumar Reddy as another pace-bowling all-rounder, but he has also faced fitness issues.
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