Bhuvneshwar Kumar recalled to India T20I squad as Bumrah is rested for New Zealand T20Is
Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India's T20I squad on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, after nearly four years when the BCCI named a 16-man side for the five-match series against New Zealand; Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the T20I leg. The announcement was made by the BCCI ahead of the tour's white-ball opening matches.
Bhuvneshwar last represented India in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at the Adelaide Oval in November 2022, and his most recent India appearance also came in New Zealand later that month. The 36-year-old earned the recall following strong returns in the Indian Premier League, taking 45 wickets across the last two IPL editions for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and playing a role in the franchise's title-winning campaigns. IPL 2026 was particularly productive for him, with 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.95. Speaking in August, Bhuvneshwar said: "I'm playing the IPL and domestic cricket because I love the game," adding "When you're young and playing for India, you say you love the game. But honestly, things like 'control the controllable', 'don't overthink', or 'playing for the passion of the game' -- I can actually feel those things now." "I've already played for India. That's not something I have to achieve now. If I get another opportunity, that's great, but I've been there. Everything I'm doing now is because of my love for the game. I know I have to stay disciplined."
The selection sees the return of Varun Chakaravarthy to the T20I group; the 35-year-old mystery spinner had an injury-riddled 2026 and was last in action in a T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi where he suffered a side strain that ruled him out of the one-off T20I against Japan and the subsequent Asian Games. Chakaravarthy has been named at the expense of Ravi Bishnoi in the 16-man panel. Selectors otherwise made no major changes, largely retaining the group used in recent T20I plans.
Shreyas Iyer will captain the T20I side with Tilak Varma named his deputy, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi keeps his place in the squad as one of the younger players likely to seek opportunities during the series. India's announced T20I squad reads: 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, Kuldeep Yadav.
Bumrah's omission from the T20I squad is part of workload management, with team management keen to preserve the fast bowler for longer assignments; he is expected to be available for the ODI and Test series against New Zealand. Since Ajit Agarkar's tenure as chief selector officially ended, Pragyan Ojha led the selection meeting in the capacity of interim chief selector. Bhuvneshwar had been appointed captain of India's squad for the Hong Kong Sixes but his inclusion in the New Zealand T20I squad means he will miss that tournament.
The selection committee also confirmed an India A squad for a three-match multi-day series against New Zealand A, naming KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar among those included to gain match practice in similar conditions. The India A fixtures are intended to give these players time in the middle ahead of the senior team's Test campaign, and Pant's inclusion in the A squad is subject to fitness after he suffered a bout of fever during the Irani Cup final against Jammu and Kashmir.
The five-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on October 22, with Shreyas Iyer to lead India and Tilak Varma as his deputy; squads for the ODI and Test legs of the tour are yet to be announced, and India are scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests on the tour.
