India have shuffled their squad for the five-match T20 series against New Zealand, starting 21 January, calling up Shreyas Iyer and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi in place of the injured Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma. Iyer is pencilled in only for the first three fixtures, leaving open the possibility of Tilak returning should his recovery progress well.
“Washington Sundar reported an acute onset discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling,” the BCCI medical release noted, confirming a side strain that will keep the spinning all-rounder out of action for the rest of the month. The statement added that he will spend “a few days’ rest” before heading to the National Cricket Academy for rehab.
Tilak’s setback is very different. The left-hander has just undergone testicular surgery in Rajkot and, while not ruled out of the entire series, will miss the opening leg. India’s hierarchy remain cautious. As chief selector Ajit Agarkar put it on Wednesday, “There’s no point rushing a young player back; we’ll re-assess after the third game.”
Iyer’s return is timely. The Mumbai batter has not featured in a T20I since December 2023 and sat out this season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy while recovering from a spleen injury. His domestic comeback in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was steady rather than spectacular, yet he carried himself well enough to earn another look. Speaking after one of those 50-over outings, Iyer said: “I’ve missed being out in the middle, but the body is responding nicely and I’m itching to contribute.”
Bishnoi, meanwhile, last wore India colours almost a year ago. Nine wickets in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali games – economy 8.72 – kept him on the radar. “Ravi has been impressive with his control in the middle overs and gives us a wicket-taking option,” Agarkar added. With Kuldeep Yadav the only other specialist wrist-spinner in the squad, Bishnoi’s inclusion provides depth in a key role ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.
The series, India’s final tune-up before that global event, runs as follows: Nagpur (21 Jan), Raipur (23 Jan), Guwahati (25 Jan), Visakhapatnam (28 Jan) and Thiruvananthapuram (31 Jan).
Updated India squad
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
Iyer available for matches one to three only.
