PV Sindhu leads 24-member India squad at Australian Open 2026
Synopsis
India arrives at the Australian Open 2026 in Sydney without its defending men's champion Lakshya Sen, former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, and injured pair Satwik-Chirag — making PV Sindhu the undisputed face of a 24-member squad that must punch above its weight at a Super 500 event where the rankings points are too valuable to leave on the table.
Key Takeaways
PV Sindhu leads a 24-member Indian squad at the Australian Open 2026 BWF Super 500, beginning 10 June 2026 in Sydney .
Defending champion Lakshya Sen and former world No.
1 Kidambi Srikanth (2017 winner) are both absent from the tournament.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty miss out after Rankireddy aggravated a shoulder injury at the Indonesia Open.
HS Prannoy , Ayush Shetty , and Kiran George lead the men's singles, all seeking redemption after first-round exits in Jakarta.
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto spearhead India's mixed doubles challenge; India has no women's doubles representation this year.
PV Sindhu, India's two-time Olympic medallist, will spearhead a 24-member Indian contingent at the Australian Open 2026, a BWF Super 500 event scheduled to begin at the Quaycentre in Sydney on Tuesday, 10 June 2026. Experienced shuttler HS Prannoy and rising talent Ayush Shetty join Sindhu as India's key hopes across the draws.
Key Absences Reshape India's Challenge
India will be without two of its most decorated men's singles performers. Defending champion Lakshya Sen has withdrawn from this year's edition, while former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth — who lifted the title back in 2017 — is also sitting out. Their absence places considerably more pressure on the remaining contingent to deliver deep runs in Sydney.
Women's Singles: Sindhu Anchors a Deep Field
Sindhu, a former world champion, heads a sizeable Indian women's singles lineup in the main draw. She will be joined by former Asian junior champion Malvika Bansod, Anmol Kharb, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Aakarshi Kashyap, and Tanya Hemnath. Imad Farooqui and Samiya will begin their campaigns from the qualifying rounds. Notably, India has no representation in the women's doubles competition this year.
Men's Singles and Doubles: Redemption on the Agenda
The men's singles challenge rests with Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, and Kiran George — all three of whom suffered first-round exits at last week's Indonesia Open and will be eager to bounce back. Youngsters Tharun Mannepalli, Saneeth Dayanand, and Manraj Singh complete India's men's singles roster, with Dayanand and Singh entering through qualifiers.
India's men's doubles campaign has been hit by injury. Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will miss the tournament after Rankireddy aggravated a shoulder injury sustained at the Indonesia Open. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan, who reached the quarter-finals in Jakarta, will carry India's hopes in the men's doubles. Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu and Arjun Reddy Pochana make their second BWF World Tour appearance after the Spain Masters.
Mixed Doubles: Kapila-Crasto Lead the Charge
India's mixed doubles challenge is headlined by Dhruv Kapila and Olympian Tanisha Crasto. They will be accompanied by the pairing of Dhruv Rawat and Manisha Keer, as well as siblings Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan. With the Super 500 points on offer, strong mixed doubles performances could meaningfully boost India's rankings heading into the second half of the season.
Point of View
Srikanth, and the Satwik-Chirag pair — three of the country's most bankable Super 500 performers — is not just bad luck; it exposes the thin depth in men's singles and doubles that has been a recurring concern. Sindhu carrying the flag at 30 is a testament to her endurance, but the BWF rankings race demands consistent points from multiple players, not one champion. The real question Sydney will answer is whether Prannoy, Shetty, and the younger names can step into the vacuum — or whether India's second half of the season will be defined by the same dependency on a single superstar.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading India's squad at the Australian Open 2026?
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is leading India's 24-member contingent at the Australian Open 2026 BWF Super 500 in Sydney, starting 10 June 2026. She is joined by HS Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, and Kiran George, among others.
Why are Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth not playing at the Australian Open 2026?
Defending champion Lakshya Sen and former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth — who won the title in 2017 — have both withdrawn from the tournament. No official reason was cited in reports for their absence.
Why are Satwik and Chirag missing the Australian Open 2026?
Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are absent because Rankireddy aggravated a shoulder injury during last week's Indonesia Open. MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan will represent India in men's doubles instead.
Which Indian players are in the women's singles draw?
PV Sindhu, Malvika Bansod, Anmol Kharb, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Aakarshi Kashyap, and Tanya Hemnath are in the main draw. Imad Farooqui and Samiya start from the qualifying rounds. India has no women's doubles pair this year.
Who represents India in mixed doubles at the Australian Open 2026?
Dhruv Kapila and Olympian Tanisha Crasto headline India's mixed doubles challenge, supported by Dhruv Rawat and Manisha Keer, and siblings Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan.
