3 Reasons why Hardik Pandya was not selected in India's T20I squad for upcoming series

India’s squad announcements for the Ireland and England series, as well as the Asian Games, were full of surprises. Among them, the omission of Hardik Pandya stood out as one of the biggest talking points.

Pandya is widely regarded as India’s finest seam‑bowling allrounder in white‑ball cricket. His absence from all three squads has raised eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity. Here are three reasons why the selectors decided against his inclusion:

1. Workload management with ODI World Cup 2027 in focus

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar explained that Hardik’s exclusion was part of a long‑term plan. The selectors want to preserve him for the ODI World Cup 2027, which will be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Given his importance to India’s chances in the tournament, the priority is to keep him fit and ready for the 50‑over format.

"He is a part of the one‑day squad right now in (the) Afghanistan (series). Like Bumrah, if we can get him playing well and keep him fit for one‑day cricket - I don't think he's played one‑day cricket for a while - that is, at this point, the main objective," said Agarkar while addressing the media.

2. To groom young seam‑bowling allrounders in T20Is

The selectors also want to use the T20 format to develop younger seam‑bowling allrounders. This approach ensures that India has multiple options in the future and reduces the team’s reliance on Hardik in the shortest format. Nitish Reddy, for instance, has been identified as a player who can be groomed through opportunities in T20 cricket.

"We can always bring him back. It also gives us an opportunity to give someone like Nitish Reddy a few opportunities with T20 cricket. So, there will be a little bit of rest and rotation with regards to T20 (in Pandya's case)," Agarkar said.

3. Hardik Pandya’s IPL 2026 form

Hardik’s struggles in IPL 2026 may have also influenced the selectors. Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing campaign, finishing ninth on the points table, and Hardik himself had a season to forget.

He managed only 206 runs in 10 games, averaging 22.88 at a strike rate of 138.25. His bowling was equally underwhelming, with just four wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 11.42. These numbers did little to strengthen his case for selection.