Here’s how Krunal Pandya reacted after not getting picked for Afghanistan T20Is
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Krunal Pandya was expected to be part of India squad for Afghanistan T20Is.
Krunal Pandya, who last represented India in international cricket in a T20I series against Sri Lanka in 2021, was once again in the conversation to return to the Indian team, especially after his heroics in Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Indian Cricket Team is set to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting on September 13. All three matches are scheduled to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
The T20 World Cup champions, however, haven’t been in the best form in the last few series. India had a disappointing tour of Ireland and England, where they lost 0-2 to Ireland and 0-4 to England. Many unwanted records and streaks were broken during the tour, and the disappointing performances by the players caught the attention of the selectors.
While India won T20I series in Zimbabwe, but loss to Ireland and England raised concerns. The Times of India had reported that Krunal Pandya is in contention to replace Axar Patel in the T20I series against Afghanistan.
However, when the Indian squad for the Afghanistan series was announced, Axar Patel’s name was included, while Krunal Pandya was once again denied a return to the national side.
Krunal Pandya breaks silence after missing out on India squad for Afghanistan series
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Reacting to the news, Krunal posted an Instagram story that read, “Hope is still alive.” This clearly indicates that Krunal is still hopeful about making a return to the Indian team and is not ready to give up on his dreams yet.
Krunal Pandya has had two back-to-back incredible seasons in the IPL, where he won the title in consecutive years with his team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
In modern T20 cricket, where bowlers are often treated harshly, Krunal has adapted his game and added several variations, including his famous bouncer. Krunal has taken 31 wickets in the last two IPL seasons, with an impressive bowling average of 18.68 and an economy rate of 8.33.
More than the numbers, he is known for standing up in tough situations and taking crucial wickets when needed. Even with the bat, he has stepped up when RCB needed him the most, winning matches for them out of nowhere.
When is the AFG vs IND T20I series starting?
The Afghanistan vs India T20I series is scheduled to start on September 13, 2026.
How did Krunal Pandya react to the news of not being included in the Indian squad?
Krunal Pandya shared an Instagram story with the message, “Hope is still alive 🤞🇮🇳,” showing that he remains hopeful of making a return to the Indian team.
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