No Hardik Pandya in Baroda squad for SMAT 2026
Cricbuzz understands that BCCI instructed Baroda Cricket Association that Hardik should instead focus on his rehabilitation programme at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru
Hardik Pandya has not been picked in Baroda's squad for the forthcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament with the 33-year-old still rehabilitating from a tibial bone stress.
Pandya has been out of competitive action since IPL 2026 and has not played international cricket since the T20 World Cup final on March 8. The all-rounder has been beset by injury problems since. There was a glimmer of a hope about a potential comeback when he was named to play the one-dayers in India A's series against the visiting Australia 'A' side in Puducherry but the shin injury set him back further.
Cricbuzz understands that BCCI instructed Baroda Cricket Association that Hardik should instead focus on his rehabilitation programme at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Hardik's brother Krunal Pandya will continue to lead Baroda with Atit Sheth named his deputy. Baroda are placed in Elite Group A alongside defending champions Jharkhand, Bengal, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh and Mizoram.
