3 forgotten India players who can make a comeback through SMAT performances
Venkatesh Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Krunal Pandya are among the notable names looking to press their case for an India recall through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27.
3. Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya, 35, has not been part of any India white-ball squad since July 2021. Despite that long gap, his back-to-back productive seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru have kept him in the conversation where he claimed 17 wickets for RCB in IPL 2025 and followed that with 14 wickets in IPL 2026. Some observers have noted him as a potential spin all-rounder option alongside or in place of Axar Patel in the national setup.
Krunal captains Baroda in SMAT 2026-27, with Atit Sheth as his vice-captain. Baroda's Elite group campaign begins against Chandigarh on November 14 at the MCA Cricket Ground, Mumbai. Notably, Hardik Pandya is absent from Baroda's squad for this edition, having spent time at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru due to injury. Krunal's consecutive wicket tallies across IPL 2025 and 2026 represent the clearest statistical argument for a fresh look from selectors.
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