‘Hope is still alive’: Krunal reacts after missing out on India’s Afghan T20I squad
Indian cricketer Krunal Pandya expressed hope for a national team return after being excluded from the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been named in the squad pending fitness clearance.
Why it matters
The selection process for the Indian national cricket team is a major point of interest for millions of fans and impacts the professional trajectory of high-profile athletes.
NEW DELHI: Krunal Pandya has hinted that his hopes of returning to international cricket remain alive after the all-rounder was left out of India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.Shortly after the squad was announced on Tuesday, Krunal shared a poignant message on social media, writing: “Hope is still alive”.The 35-year-old left-arm spinner has been pushing for a return to India’s T20I setup and, as reported earlier by TimesofIndia.com, had emerged as an option for the selectors following India’s recent outings in Ireland and England.Afghanistan will host India for three T20Is in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17, with the Arun Jaitley Stadium set to stage all three matches.Krunal misses out despite strong IPL seasonKrunal last played for India in the 2021 T20I series against Sri Lanka but has remained on the selectors’ radar following an impressive IPL 2026 campaign.Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Krunal…
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