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India named 15-man squad for his or her upcoming bilateral T20I project towards Afghanistan beginning later this month.
India will face Afghanistan in New Delhi subsequent. (AFP Photograph/IG)
On the day India named their 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match T20I collection towards Afghanistan, an all-rounder’s cryptic put up on Instagram has despatched tongues wagging.
It’s been over 5 years since Krunal Pandya, the elder brother of Hardik Pandya, final performed worldwide cricket. Having misplaced his place in 2021, Krunal has since been grinding it out within the home circuit for Baroda, hoping to be a magnet for the choice panel, which is at the moment being headed by Ajit Agarkar.
There have been murmurs of Krunal being again on the selectors’ radar after a formidable displaying for two-time IPL successful champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in successive seasons.
A report claimed that the 35-year-old’s identify has been mentioned as a doable like-for-like alternative for Axar Patel, whose latest numbers have been lower than spectacular.
Nevertheless, Axar has managed to retain his place within the crew, however Krunal wasn’t picked.
Hours after the crew announcement, Krunal shared a narrative on Instagram with the textual content, “Hope Is Nonetheless Alive” with fingers crossed and an Indian flag.
Krunal’s Efficiency In IPL
Krunal has change into a key participant for RCB ever since becoming a member of the franchise forward of IPL 2025. His two seasons with them have resulted within the crew successful back-to-back titles, and his performances haven’t gone with out discover.
In IPL 2025, his first with RCB after they gained their first ever IPL trophy, Krunal took 17 wickets at an economic system of 8.23. Whereas batting within the decrease order, he made 109 runs – together with an unbeaten 73 – at a strike-rate of 126.74.
Then, as RCB efficiently defended their crown earlier this yr, the veteran once more made vital contributions in each departments. He took 14 wickets at an economic system of 8.41 along with his left-arm spin and scored 226 runs at a strike-rate of 145.80.
Krunal’s India Profession
By the way, Krunal obtained a style of worldwide cricket as his brother Hardik’s alternative throughout the T20I collection towards West Indies in 2018. He took one wicket and belted an unbeaten 21 of 9 deliveries.
The efficiency was sufficient for him to be picked for the Australia T20Is the place he returned costly figures of 0/55 within the first sport earlier than bouncing again to take 1/26 within the second match and 4/36 within the third contest.
In March 2021, he made his ODI debut and celebrated it by hitting a half-century.
Thus far, in 5 ODIs, Krunal has made 130 runs together with an unbeaten 58 apart from choosing two wickets. In 19 T20Is, he has 15 wickets at an economic system of 8.10 and 124 runs at a strike-rate of 130.52.
Fast Solutions
Ask News18Whether or not Krunal Pandya will get one other likelihood in worldwide cricket just isn’t confirmed. Though he was mentioned as a possible alternative for Axar Patel, he was in the end omitted of the 15-member India squad introduced for the upcoming T20I collection towards Afghanistan. Regardless of this newest snub, the 35-year-old all-rounder has expressed that his hope of constructing a comeback continues to be alive.
Ask News18Concerning the Creator
Feroz Khan has been masking sports activities for over 12 years now and is at the moment working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He launched into his journey in 2011 and has since acquired huge expertise …Learn Extra
September 02, 2026, 09:52 IST
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