Hardik Pandya Sidelined as Krunal Leads Baroda in Syed Mushtaq Ali

Missing from Squad: Hardik Pandya has been left out of Baroda's 15-member squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His brother, Krunal Pandya, will lead the team.

Extended Absence: Hardik has not played competitive cricket since the end of IPL 2026 on May 24, where he played for the Mumbai Indians.

Injury Status & Recovery

Fresh Shin Injury: He was recently named in India A's one-day squad against Australia A in October but had to be withdrawn due to a fresh shin injury. Sources indicated he was not entirely pain-free while bowling.

Centre of Excellence: He has spent months at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, initially recovering from back spasms suffered during the IPL and subsequently a leg strain.

Last International: His final international appearance came in the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand prior to the IPL.

Team Context & Approach

Cautious Management: With the ODI World Cup coming up in Africa next year, India views him as a crucial short-format allrounder. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir has stressed that there is no question of taking players to the World Cup "half-cooked".

Baroda's Campaign: Apart from Krunal, Baroda's squad features players like Jitesh Sharma, Deepak Hooda, and Rasikh Salam. They open their tournament campaign against Chandigarh in Mumbai on November 14.