India There has been a double blow before the five-match home T20 series against new zealandwith washington beautiful being eliminated from the entire competition and Tilak Verma Set to miss the first three matches, Sundar has been ruled out after scans revealed a side strain, forcing the team management to take a cautious approach with the all-rounder. He has been advised to rest for a few days before reporting to the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru for further evaluation and injury management.
While Tilak’s absence is temporary, with the left-handed batsman expected to return later in the series, Sundar’s unavailability for all five matches comes at a crucial time. This series is an important part of India’s preparation t20 world cupSet to launch in India and Sri Lanka in less than a month.
Star spinner has been included in the Indian team in place of Washington Sundar.
To address Sundar’s absence, the selectors have drafted Ravi BishnoiStrengthening India’s spin resources for the series. Bishnoi last played a T20 match in January 2025 England He has a lot of experience at home and despite his young age. The leg spinner has represented India in 42 T20Is so far, taking 61 wickets with his pace through the air and sharp turn making him a reliable option in the middle overs.
With the spinners expected to get help in home conditions, Bishnoi’s inclusion gives the team an attacking option alongside established names. -Kuldeep Yadav And Varun Chakraborty.
Also read: 3 players who can replace Tilak Verma in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad if he misses out
Shreyas Iyer returns to T20I team
The selectors have also taken a stance Shreyas IyerWho has returned to the T20I team for the first time since December 2023. Shreyas has been included as a replacement for Tilak for the first three matches to be held on January 21, 23 and 25. His last T20 match was against Australia in Bengaluru and his return reflects his strong form in recent months.
Shreyas enjoyed a brilliant IPL 2025 campaign, scoring 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07, as well as leading punjab kings Till the final. His ability to handle an innings and accelerate when required adds depth and resilience to India’s middle order, especially in the absence of Tilak during the early part of the series.
India’s updated T20I squad against New Zealand
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
