Hardik Pandya Excluded from Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Squad

Hardik Pandya has been left out of Baroda's squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as he continues to recover from injuries sustained during the IPL. His brother, Krunal Pandya, will captain the team. Hardik's last competitive appearance was in May, and he has been focusing on his rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. With the ODI World Cup approaching, his return is crucial for India's T20 preparations. The Baroda team will start their campaign against Chandigarh on November 14.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 7, 2026, 13:29 IST

Hardik Pandya Missing from Domestic T20 Tournament

Hardik Pandya will not participate in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's domestic T20 competition, as he has been left out of Baroda's 15-member team. His brother, Krunal Pandya, has been appointed as the captain of the squad.

Injury and Recovery Status

The last time Hardik played in a competitive match was on May 24 during an IPL 2026 game for the Mumbai Indians. He was initially selected for India A's one-day series against Australia A in October but had to withdraw due to a new shin injury. Reports indicate that he was still experiencing pain while bowling at that time.

Since the IPL concluded, Hardik has been focusing on his recovery at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He has been dealing with multiple fitness issues, including back spasms from the IPL and a leg strain. His most recent international match was in a T20I series against New Zealand before the IPL 2026 began.

Looking Ahead

India is currently playing an ODI series against New Zealand and is set to resume T20I matches in December with a home series against Sri Lanka. With the ODI World Cup in Africa approaching next year, having Hardik back in the team will be vital for India's preparations as they aim to finalize their squad and strategies for the prestigious tournament.

Baroda Squad Overview

The Baroda team, under Krunal Pandya's leadership, includes notable players such as Jitesh Sharma, Deepak Hooda, and Rasikh Salam. They are scheduled to kick off their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy journey against Chandigarh in Mumbai on November 14.