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Bhuvneshwar Kumar Returns to India T20I Squad for New Zealand Series

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Oct 6, 2026, 21:56 IST

The BCCI has confirmed a 16-member Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, featuring the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the inclusion of spinner Varun Chakaravarthy.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Returns to India T20I Squad for New Zealand Series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The selection panel has opted for two notable changes to the group that is currently competing in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies, signaling a strategic shift in the bowling department.

The most significant development is the return of veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the national setup. His inclusion is expected to bolster the pace attack, providing a wealth of experience alongside Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, and Prince Yadav. Additionally, the squad sees the return of spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, who replaces Ravi Bishnoi in the final 16-man roster.

Squad Composition and Leadership

Shreyas Iyer will continue to lead the side as captain, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy. The core of the batting lineup remains consistent with the previous series, featuring Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, and Kuldeep Yadav. The selection committee has maintained stability in the batting order while focusing on refining the bowling options for the New Zealand tour.

The full squad for the New Zealand series is as follows: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav.

India A Squad Announcement

In addition to the senior T20I squad, the BCCI has confirmed the roster for the India A series, which is scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 10. The India A side features a mix of established talent and emerging players, including KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel, who will captain the side. The squad also includes Devdutt Padikkal, Ravichandran Smaran, Washington Sundar, Auqib Nabi, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudarsan, Yash Rathod, and Mukesh Kumar.

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