4 India Players Who Missed Afghanistan T20I Squad

India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan has sparked quick debate, not just for the players selected, but for the names left out. With the Shreyas Iyer-led side returning after a long gap, the announcement was expected to offer a few fresh chances to fringe performers in the T20 setup.

Instead, the squad leaned on a familiar core, leaving several in-form or promising cricketers waiting a little longer for their next opportunity. Among the biggest talking points were Krunal Pandya, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Rinku Singh — each of them had a case, in one way or another, for inclusion.

India stick with a settled core

The final squad included Shreyas Iyer as captain, Tilak Varma as vice-captain, along with Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh. That group suggests India wanted continuity, balance and role clarity against Afghanistan.

But that approach also meant the selectors did not fully open the door for some players who had built momentum through the IPL and domestic cricket. In a short series, especially against a competitive opponent, those omissions are bound to be discussed.

Krunal Pandya’s all-round case

Krunal Pandya looked like one of the strongest candidates for a return. The left-arm all-rounder played a major role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back IPL titles and even won Player of the Match in the IPL 2025 final with figures of 2/17.

His value has been obvious across both disciplines. Since IPL 2025, Krunal has taken 31 wickets at an economy rate of 8.33, while also contributing useful runs in pressure situations. His batting included a couple of important fifties and several timely cameos.

For a team preparing to face Afghanistan, that kind of experience could have been extremely useful. Afghanistan often tests spin options and lower-order control, and Krunal’s variations — including the improved bouncer he has developed — would have added tactical depth.

There was also a sense that a long-awaited international comeback could be on the cards, given he last played for India in July 2021. The call never came, though the form was strong enough to keep his name in the conversation.

Prince Yadav’s rise was hard to ignore

Prince Yadav was one of IPL 2026’s breakout bowling stories. The Lucknow Super Giants pacer picked up 16 wickets in the season and impressed with his ability to bowl into the pitch, vary his pace and keep batters from settling into rhythm.

He also gained attention after dismissing Virat Kohli, with Kohli later being credited by Prince as someone who advised him on bowling lengths. That moment only increased the spotlight around the young quick, who then moved into the India setup quickly after the IPL.

Prince had already played three ODIs and six T20Is for India, taking four and nine wickets respectively. Although injury interrupted his progress after a strong 2/10 spell against Zimbabwe, reports suggested he was available for selection again.

With India looking for pace options who can attack early and defend in the middle overs, Prince seemed like a plausible pick for the Afghanistan series. His omission does not close the door, but it does delay the next step in his rise.

Why Gurnoor Brar stood out

Gurnoor Brar’s name may not have carried the same volume of hype, but his profile made him an intriguing option. He has spent considerable time around the Gujarat Titans setup and showed enough pace in his debut ODI series against Afghanistan to raise eyebrows.

One detail stood out immediately: he repeatedly touched 145 kmph across phases of the innings. That kind of raw pace is valuable in any format, especially when selectors are searching for upside and long-term development.

Even though he has played only one IPL match so far and is not a regular in Punjab’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy side, his presence around the national environment suggested he was at least in the broader conversation. Against a team like Afghanistan, where pace variation and hard lengths can matter, he could have been a developmental pick worth testing.

As one observer noted during the season, “sometimes selection is about current form, but sometimes it is also about building a player before the opportunity feels overdue.” Brar appears to be in that category.

Rinku Singh still feels like a missed chance

Rinku Singh’s omission may have triggered the most debate because his value in India’s T20 structure is already well established. The Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain started the season slowly but finished strongly, reminding everyone of his finishing quality.

His late-season scores — 53*(34), 83*(51), 22*(11) and 49*(29) — showed exactly why he remains such a useful T20 player. He is calm under pressure, can accelerate quickly and is capable of changing the tone of a chase in just a few overs.

India’s current batting balance has leaned heavily on Shivam Dube’s finishing, with Tilak Varma still adapting to a new role. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar remain options as well, but Rinku offers a more natural lower-order finishing style.

He did return to the India side for the Zimbabwe tour and scored 25 off 14 in one outing, but the Afghanistan series could still have been an ideal platform for him to cement his place again. Leaving him out keeps the debate alive about India’s preferred finishing blueprint.

The bigger selection question

In the end, India’s Afghanistan squad reflects a selection group that values continuity over experimentation, at least for now. That is understandable in a short series, but it also meant strong domestic and IPL performances were not enough for some players to force their way in.

Krunal Pandya brought experience and all-round balance. Prince Yadav brought form and pace. Gurnoor Brar offered raw speed and upside. Rinku Singh brought proven finishing ability. Any one of them could have given the squad a slightly different look.

The final answer will come on the field, but the selection debate has already started. For players on the edge of India’s T20 plans, that may be the clearest sign that the competition for places is becoming sharper than ever.

Deserving India players snubbed from Afghanistan T20Is: Krunal Pandya, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Rinku Singh.