Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge has been drafted into the India A one-day squad as a replacement for Hardik Pandya, who has been ruled out of the three-match home series against Australia A after failing to recover from a fresh injury concern.
Why Pandya is out
Hardik was originally named in the India A squad subject to fitness clearance, but he has not been pain-free while bowling, prolonging an absence from competitive cricket that stretches back to an injury suffered during IPL 2026 in May. Reports citing a fitness assessment on September 19 said the all-rounder experienced discomfort in his right calf, and an MRI subsequently revealed mild swelling consistent with right medial tibial stress syndrome, ending his involvement in the series. His last international appearance came in the T20 World Cup final in March 2026, where India beat New Zealand to lift the trophy for the third time; he has not played an ODI since 2025.
Who comes in
Shedge, 23, offers India A an additional medium-pace bowling all-round option. He has played three T20 internationals for India and 15 List A matches, nearly half of them for India A. His recent form is encouraging: he struck a career-best 72 off 66 balls batting at number seven for India A against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla in June, in a match that went to a Super Over, and scored at a strike rate of 251.92 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25.
Series details and other changes
The three-match series begins today, October 6, in Puducherry, with the remaining games on October 9 and October 11. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the side, with Devdutt Padikkal as vice-captain. In another change to the squad, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Anukul Roy replaces Naman Dhir, who has been elevated to India's T20I squad for the five-match series against the West Indies in place of Washington Sundar. Washington was part of India's gold-medal-winning men's cricket team at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Sources:
Hardik Pandya Still Unfit? Ace India All-Rounder Dropped From India A Squad — Outlook India
Suryansh Shedge Replaces Injured Hardik Pandya in India A Squad — New Kerala
Why Pandya is out
Hardik was originally named in the India A squad subject to fitness clearance, but he has not been pain-free while bowling, prolonging an absence from competitive cricket that stretches back to an injury suffered during IPL 2026 in May. Reports citing a fitness assessment on September 19 said the all-rounder experienced discomfort in his right calf, and an MRI subsequently revealed mild swelling consistent with right medial tibial stress syndrome, ending his involvement in the series. His last international appearance came in the T20 World Cup final in March 2026, where India beat New Zealand to lift the trophy for the third time; he has not played an ODI since 2025.
Who comes in
Shedge, 23, offers India A an additional medium-pace bowling all-round option. He has played three T20 internationals for India and 15 List A matches, nearly half of them for India A. His recent form is encouraging: he struck a career-best 72 off 66 balls batting at number seven for India A against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla in June, in a match that went to a Super Over, and scored at a strike rate of 251.92 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25.
Series details and other changes
The three-match series begins today, October 6, in Puducherry, with the remaining games on October 9 and October 11. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain the side, with Devdutt Padikkal as vice-captain. In another change to the squad, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Anukul Roy replaces Naman Dhir, who has been elevated to India's T20I squad for the five-match series against the West Indies in place of Washington Sundar. Washington was part of India's gold-medal-winning men's cricket team at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Sources:
Hardik Pandya Still Unfit? Ace India All-Rounder Dropped From India A Squad — Outlook India
Suryansh Shedge Replaces Injured Hardik Pandya in India A Squad — New Kerala
