‘Hope is still alive’: Krunal Pandya remains optimistic despite omission from India’s T20I squad

NEW DELHI: Veteran all-rounder Krunal Pandya has signaled that his international career remains a primary goal after he was left out of the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

The 35-year-old took to social media shortly after the team announcement on Tuesday to share a brief yet poignant message: “Hope is still alive.”

A Case for a Comeback

Krunal, who has not represented India in T20Is since the 2021 series against Sri Lanka, has been knocking on the door of a national recall following a highly productive IPL 2026 campaign. Representing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the left-arm spinner proved his enduring value by bagging 14 wickets, serving as a reliable spin-bowling all-rounder.

Selectors have been searching for consistency in the spin-bowling all-rounder department following recent tours of Ireland and England. While Axar Patel featured in all seven matches across those tours, his output—four wickets in seven games—left the door slightly ajar for competition. Despite his strong domestic form, Krunal was ultimately overlooked for the Afghanistan series, which begins on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Squad Composition and Injury Concerns

The squad for the series against Afghanistan, led by Shreyas Iyer, sees the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, though his participation remains contingent upon passing a mandatory fitness test. Bumrah has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during the ODI series in England, which also caused him to miss the recent Test series in Sri Lanka.

The selection committee has also adopted a cautious approach with several other key players, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana. Each of these players is currently navigating “Return to Play” protocols following recent injuries. Harshit Rana is recovering from a hamstring issue sustained in the third T20I against England, while Washington Sundar is dealing with a similar injury from the ODI series.

Notably, Hardik Pandya continues to be absent from the side. Following a late leg niggle that disrupted his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, he remains sidelined. The star all-rounder has not played professional cricket since May 24.

As Krunal Pandya continues to reflect on his exclusion, his resilient attitude—declaring that his “Hope is still alive”—suggests that the seasoned campaigner is not ready to walk away from the international stage just yet.

India’s Squad for Afghanistan T20Is:
Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.

(Subject to fitness clearance)*