Injuries to Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma have opened the door for Shreyas Iyer’s T20I comeback and Ravi Bishnoi’s return for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand
New Delhi:
India’s preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup have hit a small bump with injuries to two key players, but the replacements joining the squad bring plenty of firepower.
The BCCI confirmed today that middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi have been added to the team for the five-match series against New Zealand.
The injury report: who’s out?
The squad shuffle comes after Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma were forced to the sidelines:
Washington sundar : The all-rounder is out for the entire series after suffering a side strain during the recent ODI in Vadodara. He’ll be heading to the BCCI Centre of Excellence to begin his recovery.
Tilak varma: Varma is dealing with abdominal discomfort. While he isn’t ruled out entirely, he’ll miss at least the first three matches of the series.
Also Read: IND vs NZ T20I Series 2026: Head-to-Head, Schedule, Squads, Probable XIs and Match Details
A major replacements
To fill the gap, India has turned to two proven performers-
Ravi Bishnoi takes Sundar’s spot for the full series. A former world No. 1 T20 bowler, Bishnoi is known for his quick, skidding leg-spin and clinical fielding. With 61 international wickets under his belt, he adds a lethal edge to the bowling attack.
Shreyas Iyer makes a high-profile return to the T20I squad for the first three games. It’s been over two years since Iyer featured in this format for India, but his ability to take down spinners and stabilize the middle order makes him an ideal replacement for Varma.
The Updated India Squad
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the squad remains a formidable mix of youth and experience-
Batters/Keepers: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer (Games 1-3), Rinku Singh, Ishan Kishan (WK).
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC).
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi.
Why this series matters
Starting January 21, this five-match stretch is more than just a home series—it’s the final dress rehearsal for the 2026 T20 World Cup. With the tournament just a month away, these games will decide the final pecking order for the starting XI.
Fans are particularly excited to see Iyer back in blue, while analysts believe Bishnoi’s inclusion might actually make the bowling unit more aggressive.
As New Zealand arrives for the first ball next week, all eyes will be on how these replacements perform under the spotlight.
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