Punjab batter Nehal Wadhera is set to represent Himachal Pradesh in the 2026-27 domestic cricket season. His move follows a limited run with Punjab last season, where he appeared in only three first-class matches, two 50-over contests, and four T20s. At his new side, Wadhera will join fellow guest players Pukhraj Mann and Aryaman Singh.
Wadhera, who made his first-class debut for Punjab in 2022-23, famously scored a century in his inaugural outing against Gujarat in Valsad. He was also a member of the squad that secured the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during the 2023-24 campaign. Throughout his career, he has accumulated experience across 17 first-class games, 16 List A matches, and 69 T20s, including 44 appearances in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings.
Alongside Wadhera, Prashant Chopra has returned to his home state of Himachal Pradesh after spending the previous season with Uttarakhand. Chopra’s tenure with Uttarakhand proved difficult; in seven first-class matches, he managed 262 runs at an average of 23.81, with a top score of 82. He also played three T20s, recording 85 runs at a 108.97 strike rate, but did not participate in the 50-over tournament. While currently available for selection, reports indicate he has not been included in the initial Himachal squad.
The team is currently undergoing significant structural changes, including the appointment of Vineet Saxena as head coach, replacing VRV Singh, and the addition of Gagandeep Singh as the new bowling coach. These adjustments come as Himachal looks to rebound from a difficult 2025-26 season, during which they failed to reach the knockouts in any format. Their performance in the Ranji Trophy was particularly challenging, as they finished at the bottom of their group with two losses and five draws. Additionally, the team struggled in T20s, finishing second from the bottom after winning only one of their seven matches.
