Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya is back in contention for an India call-up for the T20I series against Afghanistan amid Axar Patel’s form concerns, a report in the Times of India claimed. Pandya had performed consistently in the last two years in the IPL and has played a key role in the success of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The left-arm orthodox spinner scalped 14 wickets in 15 matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 30.35 and an economy rate of 8.41. Furthermore, he scored 226 runs in nine innings at an average of 37.66 and a strike rate of 145.80 in the previous season.

Pandya has also developed a fast bouncer in his arsenal and uses it to bamboozle the opposition batters. In the last two seasons of the IPL, Pandya has scored 335 runs with two fifties in 31 matches and has bagged 31 wickets with the ball.

Krunal has played five ODIs and 19 T20Is so far in his career for India.

On the other hand, Axar Patel hasn’t been at his absolute best in the recent past. The left-arm orthodox spinner scalped two wickets in four T20Is against England and two wickets in as many games against Ireland.

Earlier, former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth said the RCB trio of Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rajat Patidar should have received their chances on the Zimbabwe tour, where India played three T20Is.

“Krunal Pandya could have at least been given a chance in this Zimbabwe series. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rajat Patidar should have gotten a chance in this series, especially when you are giving so many other newer players a chance. This is gross injustice. Some random guys are being given chances, yet what wrong did Patidar do to not get a chance?,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube Channel.

India will play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting September 13.