Hardik Pandya included in India A squad for one-day series against Australia A

Hardik Pandya, who has not played any competitive cricket since IPL 2026, has been included in the India A squad for the three-match One-Day series against Australia A, subject to fitness.

Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the multi-day and white-ball teams respectively.

The series constitutes two multi-day matches and three one-day games, all scheduled to be held in Puducherry from September 22 to October 11.

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, Narayan Jagadeesan (WK), Nachiket Bhute, V Vyshak*

In June, Cricbuzz reported that Pandya wasundergoing a Performance Block Programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellenceto recover from a back spasm and later a quadriceps injury, which kept him out of consideration for India’s recent assignments.

He was initially named in the ODI squad for the Afghanistan home series in June subject to fitness clearance but a fresh injury complication ruled him out.

Pandya last featured for India in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in March. Aside from Pandya, fast bowler Vyshak Vijaykumar has also been picked in the multi-day squad subject to fitness.

Sai Sudharsan will be Padikkal’s deputy for the four-day games, while Padikkal will be the vice-captain in the one-day squad.

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