The Indian selectors have announced the India squad for Afghanistan T20I series 2026with Shreyas Iyer set to lead the 15-member side in the three-match series.
All three matches will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17.
One of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement is the absence of Krunal Pandya. There had been plenty of discussion around his possible return to the Indian T20I side, especially after his impressive performances in the last two IPL seasons.
However, despite those performances, Krunal has once again missed out.
Krunal Pandya Misses Out Despite Strong IPL Performances
Krunal Pandya had been discussed as a possible option for India ahead of the Afghanistan series. There were also reports suggesting that the selectors were considering him as an option with the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle in mind.
However, his name is missing from the final 15-member squad.
Looking at his performances in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026, Krunal certainly had a strong case for selection.
In IPL 2025, the left-arm spin all-rounder played an important role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning campaign. He finished with 17 wickets and also contributed 109 runs with the bat.
Krunal improved his batting numbers significantly in IPL 2026. He scored 226 runs at a strike rate of 145.81 and also picked up 14 wickets.
Krunal Pandya IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 Batting Stats
| Season | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | 15 | 109 | 73* | 18.17 | 126.74 | 1 |
| IPL 2026 | 16 | 226 | 73 | 37.67 | 145.81 | 1 |
Krunal Pandya IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 Bowling Stats
| Season | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | 15 | 17 | 8.24 | 4/45 |
| IPL 2026 | 16 | 14 | 8.42 | 2/16 |
These numbers show why Krunal’s name was being discussed before the squad announcement. Across the two IPL seasons, he scored 335 runs and picked up 31 wickets.
His IPL 2026 batting numbers were particularly impressive, as he scored 226 runs from 155 balls at a strike rate of 145.81.
Is Axar Patel Blocking Krunal Pandya's Return?
One possible reason behind Krunal’s continued absence is the presence of Axar Patel.
Both players offer a similar skill set. They are left-handed batters and slow left-arm orthodox bowlers who can provide balance to a T20 side.
Axar, however, is already an established member of India’s white-ball setup. More importantly, he has not done enough wrong to justify being left out simply to create a place for Krunal.
That makes Krunal’s route back into the Indian T20I team difficult.
Selecting both players is always an option depending on the team combination, but with Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi also providing spin options, India already have plenty of variety in the squad.
It is harsh on Krunal considering his recent IPL performances, but that is the selection reality at the moment.
India Squad for Afghanistan T20I Series 2026
Shreyas Iyer has been named captain of the Indian team, while Tilak Varma will serve as his deputy.
Batters: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (VC)
Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan
All-rounders: Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar
Spinners: Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi
Fast Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana have been selected subject to fitness clearance.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2026 Schedule
| Match | Date | Day | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | September 13, 2026 | Sunday | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 2nd T20I | September 15, 2026 | Tuesday | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 3rd T20I | September 17, 2026 | Thursday | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
Interestingly, Afghanistan are officially the hosts of the series despite all three matches being played in Delhi. The series is part of Afghanistan’s Future Tours Program.
Krunal Pandya Still Has a Strong Case
Krunal Pandya may have missed out on the India squad for Afghanistan T20I series 2026but his performances over the last two IPL seasons cannot be ignored.
Taking 31 wickets across IPL 2025 and 2026 while also improving his batting output makes him a useful T20 all-rounder.
The bigger problem for Krunal is finding a place in India’s current combination. With Axar Patel already established in a very similar role and several other spin options available, the selectors have decided to continue with the existing combination.
For Krunal, the equation is simple. He needs to keep performing whenever opportunities come his way and wait for the door to open again.