BCCI has added Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi to India's T20I squad for series against New Zealand. Notably, Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been called as the replacements for Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar respectively. India and New Zealand are slated to play a five-match T20I series, starting from January 21.
Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi added to India's squad for T20Is vs NZ
Washington Sundar has been officially ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand following the diagnosis of a side strain. The injury took place during the series opener in Vadodara on January 11, where Sundar experienced sharp discomfort in his lower rib area while performing his bowling duties.
In the wake of the injury, Sundar underwent comprehensive medical scans and consulted with specialists to determine the extent of the damage. He has been prescribed a period of immediate rest and is subsequently scheduled to report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) to begin a structured rehabilitation program under the supervision of the medical team.
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Washington Sundar ruled out
To fill the vacancy, the selection committee has called up leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi as Sundar's replacement for the T20I series. In further squad adjustments, Shreyas Iyer has been drafted in for the first three matches to cover for Tilak Varma. Varma, a key young talent, recently underwent surgery for a groin injury, leaving his fitness and availability for the 2026 T20 World Cup in question as his recovery timeline remains uncertain.
Shreyas Iyer’s return to the T20I squad marks the end of a two-year hiatus from the format, with his last appearance dating back to December 2023 against Australia. Although his name was frequently debated in selection meetings, the committee previously prioritized younger or more specialized talents like Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. During his time away from the national side, Iyer remained a dominant force in domestic and franchise cricket, notably leading the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 and guiding the Punjab Kings to the final in 2025.
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This selection headache is further complicated by long-term planning, as Iyer is not currently part of the core T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
India’s updated T20I squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi