Hardik Pandya Returns for India A vs Australia A Series

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Hardik Pandya has been selected for India A’s 50-over series against Australia A.
Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the One-Day side, with Devdutt Padikkal as vice-captain.
The five Australia A matches in Puducherry will begin on September 22, with three ODIs scheduled in October.

Mumbai: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to return to competitive cricket after his last appearance in IPL 2026. The BCCI selectors have included him in India A’s squad for the three-match 50-over series against Australia A, with the games scheduled in Puducherry in October.

Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the India A One-Day team, while Devdutt Padikkal has been named vice-captain. The Australia A tour of India will feature five matches in total, including two four-day games and three 50-over fixtures.

The first four-day match will begin on September 22, followed by the second multi-day game from September 29 to October 2. The three One-Day matches will be played on October 6, 9 and 11.

Hardik Pandya Returns to Competitive Cricket

Hardik Pandya has not played white-ball cricket for India since IPL 2026, where Mumbai Indians finished ninth in the league table. His selection for the India A One-Day squad is subject to fitness.

The selectors will be closely monitoring his progress as India prepare for a busy period of white-ball cricket. Pandya’s return gives him an opportunity to regain competitive match practice before further international commitments.

Earlier reports indicated that Pandya underwent a Performance Block Programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence following a back spasm.

India A Squad for Australia A One-Day Series

Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the 50-over team, with Devdutt Padikkal serving as his deputy. The squad includes several established domestic performers and promising young players.

Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Nishant Sindhu, Arshin Kulkarni and Naman Dhir are among the selected batters and all-round options. Kumar Kushagra and Prabhsimran Singh provide wicketkeeping choices.

Hardik Pandya is also part of the squad, alongside Vipraj Nigam, Arshad Khan, Gurjapneet Singh and Yash Thakur.

India A One-Day Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Gurjapneet Singh and Yash Thakur.

Australia A Tour Schedule in Puducherry

Puducherry will host all five Australia A matches during the tour. The programme begins with the first four-day game on September 22.

The second multi-day match will run from September 29 to October 2. The tour will then move into the 50-over format, with India A and Australia A meeting on October 6, October 9 and October 11.