The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced changes to India’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match home series against New Zealand, which begins in Nagpur on January 21. Right-hand batter Shreyas Iyer and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi have been added to the squad following injury concerns.
Ravi Bishnoi has been included as a replacement for all-rounder Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out after sustaining a side strain. Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, will be available for the first three matches of the series as cover for Tilak Varma, who is recovering from lower-abdomen surgery.
The New Zealand series will serve as India’s final international assignment before the Men’s T20 World Cup title defence, scheduled to begin on February 7.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Sundar picked up the injury while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on January 11. Following scans and consultation with a medical expert, Sundar was diagnosed with a side strain and advised rest. He will now report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further treatment and rehabilitation.
Bishnoi last represented India in a T20I against England in Mumbai in February 2025. The leg-spinner has played 42 T20Is, picking up 61 wickets at an economy rate of 7.35. Shreyas Iyer last featured in a T20I against Australia in Bengaluru in December 2023. In 51 T20Is, he has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 136.12, including eight half-centuries.
After the series opener in Nagpur, the remaining matches will be held in Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
India’s updated T20I squad includes: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), and Ravi Bishnoi.
