Suryansh Shedge Replaces Injured Hardik Pandya; Anukul Roy Replaces Naman Dhir in India A Squad for Australia ODIs
Suryansh Shedge has been named as Hardik Pandya's replacement in the India A squad for the upcoming three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A, following Pandya's calf injury. Anukul Roy also joins India A, replacing Naman Dhir who received a senior T20I call-up. Australia A sees Riley Meredith and Will Sutherland step in.
India A has announced key changes to its squad ahead of the highly anticipated three-match unofficial One-Day International series against Australia A, with Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge stepping in for the injured Hardik Pandya. The series kicks off on Tuesday, October 6, at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground. Rohit Sharma Becomes Fastest to 10,000 ODI Runs As Opener, Achieves Feat During IND vs WI 3rd ODI 2026.
The 23-year-old Shedge, who made his T20I debut for India earlier this year, arrives in Puducherry after Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to a fresh injury setback. Pandya, aged 32, experienced discomfort in his right calf on September 19, with an MRI scan revealing mild intramedullary oedema consistent with right medial tibial stress syndrome. This latest injury means a further delay in Pandya's return to competitive cricket, having been sidelined since the conclusion of the 2026 Indian Premier League season.
More Squad Changes for India A and Australia A
India A has also seen another significant change, with left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Anukul Roy joining the squad. Roy replaces Naman Dhir, who has been called up to India’s senior men’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against the West Indies. Anukul Roy, a Jharkhand domestic cricketer, was part of India A's victorious 50-over tri-series campaign in Sri Lanka in June.
The visiting Australia A side has also bolstered its ranks, bringing in pace bowler Riley Meredith and all-rounder Will Sutherland. They replace Aaron Hardie, who is nursing a minor knee injury from pre-season training, and Jack Edwards, who has received a call-up to Australia's ODI squad for their tour of South Africa.
Series Schedule and Venue
The three unofficial ODIs will all be played at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground.
| Match | Date | Start Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Unofficial ODI | October 6, 2026 | 2:00 PM | Puducherry Siechem Ground |
| 2nd Unofficial ODI | October 9, 2026 | 9:30 AM | Puducherry Siechem Ground |
| 3rd Unofficial ODI | October 11, 2026 | 9:30 AM | Puducherry Siechem Ground |
Note: The first ODI on October 6 was originally scheduled for 9:30 AM IST but has been rescheduled to 2:00 PM IST.
Updated Squads For Both Teams
India A Squad (Ruturaj Gaikwad – Captain): Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal (vc), Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Gurjapneet Singh, Yash Thakur, Suryansh Shedge, Anukul Roy. Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest Batter to 15,000 ODI Runs.
Australia A Squad: Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Riley Meredith, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw, Will Sutherland.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who will lead India A, comes into the series following a solid performance in India's recent ODI series against the West Indies, where he scored 127 runs, including a half-century. Shedge's recent form for India A in Sri Lanka, where he scored 147 runs in five matches, highlights his potential to make a significant impact. These last-minute adjustments set the stage for an intriguing battle between the two emerging sides as they look to make their mark on the international stage.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2026 01:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
