Hardik Pandya has made another step towards a return to competitive cricket after being picked in India's one-day squad for the upcoming Australia A series. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) announced India A squads on September 9, 2026, and Pandya's selection will be subject to fitness clearance.
The call-up will also give the experienced all-rounder some relief in match fitness and rhythm after a long time away from competitive cricket. Pandya will be of the greatest value for India as he is a pace bowler and is able to contribute with both bat and ball.
Pandya included in India A one-day squad
Pandya has been included in a strong India A one-day team which is captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Devdutt Padikkal is the vice-captain, while the squad also includes Rajat Patidar, Sai Sudharsan, Priyansh Arya, Naman Dhir, and Prabhsimran Singh.
Pandya will receive much-needed competitive experience in the Australia A series before he returns to the senior India side. But his participation will depend on the BCCI fitness level.
A crucial fitness test
Pandya's selection comes after a tough period in which injuries have interrupted his availability. He missed games during the 2026 Indian Premier League season because of back spasms and then suffered a quadriceps injury that kept him out of India's T20I series against Afghanistan.
The India A assignment could therefore be a key test of his physical fitness. For a player who does both batting and bowling, the return to competitive action has to be careful.
The selectors will be watching Pandya closely, especially his bowling workload and his ability to maintain intensity throughout the match.
🚨 INDIA A SQUAD FOR ONE-DAY HOME SERIES AGAINST AUSTRALIA A 🏆🔥 pic.twitter.com/HbqusyqFVU
— Game Changers (@Game_Changerrs) September 9, 2026
Australia A series schedule
The India A-Australia A contest will be held in Puducherry. The programme starts with two multi-day matches, followed by three one-day games.
The first multi-day match will take place from September 22 to 25, while the second will take place from September 29 to October 2. The one-day matches will be held on October 6, 9, and 11.
Pandya has been selected for the one-day leg, so those matches will be very important for his comeback plans.
Why Pandya's return matters for India
Pandya remains one of India’s most valuable white-ball players because of his ability to balance the playing XI. A fit Pandya gives the team another batting option and a pace bowler option as well.
His international experience in cricket and the Indian Premier League makes him even more crucial to India's limited-overs plan.
Pandya’s immediate focus is to regain match speed and show he is ready to play competitive cricket; he will need to do so in order to remain fit.
The Australia A series could prove a significant step in that journey. If he does pass the fitness test and performs strongly, Pandya could cement his chance of getting into India's senior team.
So far, his selection is a positive prospect for both him and Indian cricket, but his return is a matter of fitness.
