Krunal Pandya to lead Baroda in SMAT 2026 as Hardik sits out with injury
Synopsis
Hardik Pandya's injury absence has now stretched to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with Baroda naming brother Krunal as captain for the November 14 start. With the ODI World Cup 2027 looming, both India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have publicly flagged how critical — and how time-sensitive — Hardik's return is.
Key Takeaways
Krunal Pandya will captain Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 , which begins on 14 November .
Hardik Pandya is absent from the squad, having not played competitive cricket since 24 May in the IPL 2026 .
Hardik was pulled out of India A 's October series against Australia A due to a fresh shin injury .
India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have both publicly stressed the importance of Hardik returning via domestic cricket before international selection.
The SMAT final is on 6 December ; India's T20I series against Sri Lanka begins 22 December , making Hardik's availability for that assignment uncertain.
Krunal Pandya will captain a 15-man Baroda squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026, as his brother Hardik Pandya remains sidelined due to a persistent string of injuries that have kept him out of competitive cricket since 24 May in the IPL. Baroda announced the squad on 7 November, ahead of the tournament's start on 14 November.
Baroda Squad and Key Names
Alongside Krunal, the Baroda side features a clutch of experienced domestic and international names. Jitesh Sharma and Deepak Hooda, both familiar faces from the Indian T20I circuit, are included, as is Rasikh Salam. Atit Sheth has been named vice-captain. The full squad reads: Krunal Pandya (C), Atit Sheth (VC), Deepak Hooda, Shivalik Sharma, Shashwat Rawat, Amit Passi (WK), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Bhanu Pania, Mahesh Pithiya, Parikshit Patidar, Hemant Punde, Raj Limbani, Rasik Dar, Dhruv B. Patel, and Safvan Patel. Standby players named are Priyanshu Moliya and Chintal Gandhi.
Hardik's Injury Timeline
Hardik has been managing a back problem since the IPL 2026, where he last featured on 24 May. His last appearance for India came during a T20I series against New Zealand preceding that IPL season. He has since spent considerable time at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, working on his rehabilitation. A brief window of hope emerged when he was named in India A's squad for the one-day series against Australia A in October, but a fresh shin injury forced him out of that assignment too.
What India's Dressing Room Has Said
India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill addressed Hardik's absence ahead of the ongoing five-match ODI series against New Zealand, expressing confidence in an eventual return. 'Whenever Hardik bhai comes back, No. 7-8 will also be taken care of... He is a great all-rounder. Not many players in the world have his skill set,' Gill said. He added, 'He is unfortunate with his injuries. He hasn't played since the IPL. Hopefully, he will come back soon. He will play some domestic cricket. And hopefully we will get him back in the Indian team soon.'
India head coach Gautam Gambhir described Hardik and Jasprit Bumrah as 'extremely important' for the team's campaign in southern Africa, with the ODI World Cup 2027 in view. 'Very few teams have players who can bowl ten overs and give you runs from No. 6 or No. 7, that too with such impact,' Gambhir said in a television interview. He stressed the importance of match readiness, noting: 'You can't go to the World Cup half-cooked.'
What the SMAT Window Means for Hardik
The SMAT final is scheduled for 6 December, after which India's home series against Sri Lanka begins — ODIs from 13 December and T20Is from 22 December. Whether Hardik will have accumulated enough game time to feature in those T20Is remains uncertain. His presence in the SMAT would have offered a natural step-up towards international re-integration; his continued absence pushes that timeline further. The build-up to the ODI World Cup 2027 is tightening, and for a player of Hardik's match-impact, every missed competitive game is a compounding concern for Indian team management.
Point of View
Which signals how central he remains to India's template at No. 6 or 7. Yet every missed tournament narrows the window for match-sharp re-integration. The SMAT was a logical first step back; that step has now been skipped. If the Sri Lanka T20Is in late December also pass him by, India enters the final stretch of World Cup preparation without its most versatile lower-order weapon ever having found rhythm since May.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Hardik Pandya not playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026?
Hardik Pandya has been sidelined by a series of injuries since the IPL 2026, where he last played on 24 May. A fresh shin injury in October also ruled him out of India A's one-day series against Australia A, and his rehabilitation has continued at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Who is captaining Baroda in the SMAT 2026?
Krunal Pandya, Hardik's elder brother, will lead the Baroda side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026. Atit Sheth has been named his vice-captain in the 15-man squad.
When does the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 begin and end?
The tournament begins on 14 November 2026, with the final scheduled for 6 December 2026.
What has the Indian team management said about Hardik Pandya's return?
India captain Shubman Gill said Hardik would play some domestic cricket before returning to the national side, while head coach Gautam Gambhir described him as 'extremely important' for the ODI World Cup 2027 build-up. Gambhir emphasised that players cannot go into a World Cup 'half-cooked' and need sufficient match time.
Could Hardik Pandya play the India-Sri Lanka T20Is in December 2026?
It remains uncertain. The India-Sri Lanka T20I series begins on 22 December 2026, shortly after the SMAT final on 6 December. With Hardik missing the SMAT entirely, his match readiness for those T20Is will depend on the pace of his recovery in the weeks ahead.
