Hardik Pandya will be part of the India A squad for their upcoming unofficial ODI series against Australia A.
Hardik Pandya set to return to competitive cricket
Hardik Pandya is part of the India A squad for the three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A, to be played at Puducherry between October 6 and 11. His participation in the series, however, is subject to fitness clearance.
Pandya last played competitive cricket on May 24, when he led the Mumbai Indians in their last league match of the 2026 IPL, against the Rajasthan Royals. He did not bowl in that match. Back spasms had forced him to miss several matches during the tournament. Soon after the IPL, he suffered a leg strain, which ruled him out of the ODIs against Afghanistan and all subsequent international cricket.
Devdutt Padikkal to lead the 'Test' side
Devdutt Padikkal, who batted magnificently in the Tests in Sri Lanka, will lead India A in the two unofficial Tests. Sai Sudharsan, whom Padikkal replaced at No.3, has been named his deputy. It is worth mentioning that the second Test will overlap with the Irani Cup (scheduled from October 1), a red-ball fixture played between the Ranji Trophy champions (Jammu and Kashmir) and a Rest of India team.
Cricket in the Asian Games will get over on October 3, which will enable some big names to be available for the unofficial ODIs. Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead them, while Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, and Padikkal (and, of course, Pandya) will be part of the squad.
India A squad for Australia A 2026 series
Unofficial Tests
Devdutt Padikkal (c), Sai Sudharsan (vc), Kumar Kushagra (wk), N Jagadeesan (wk), Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, Nachiket Bhute.
Subject to fitness clearance: V Vyshak.
Unofficial ODIs
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Devdutt Padikkal (vc), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur.
Subject to fitness clearance: Hardik Pandya.
India A vs Australia A 2026: Schedule
All timings local; all matches to be played at Puducherry
1st unofficial Test: September 22-25
2nd unofficial Test: September 29-October 2
1st unofficial ODI: October 6
2nd unofficial ODI: October 9
3rd unofficial ODI: October 11
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