Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been named to India's T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, following injuries to Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the changes on Friday, January 16, 2026. The five-match T20I series is set to begin on January 21 and will be the last bilateral T20 series India plays before the T20 World Cup 2026, which starts on February 7.
Washington Sundar suffered a side strain while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on January 11. According to the BCCI, Sundar reported "acute onset discomfort in his lower rib area" and underwent scans followed by a consultation with an expert. He has been advised to rest for a few days before reporting to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of the injury.
Ravi Bishnoi has been selected to replace Sundar for the entire T20I series. Bishnoi has played 42 T20Is, taking 61 wickets with best figures of 4/13. He has maintained a strike rate of 15.8 and an economy of 7.35.
Tilak Varma, who was also named in India's T20 World Cup squad, is also facing injury issues. Varma underwent surgery for an abdominal issue in Rajkot on January 7. He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning and was scheduled to return to Hyderabad on Friday. The BCCI reported that Varma is currently stable and progressing well. He has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand. His availability for the remaining two matches will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases.
Shreyas Iyer has been included in the squad for the first three T20Is as a replacement for Varma. The selection of Iyer, a middle-order T20I batter like Varma, suggests that the BCCI is keeping its options open.
India's updated T20I squad includes experienced players like Shreyas Iyer and the promising talent of Ravi Bishnoi. Their inclusion aims to compensate for the absence of key players like Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma, who are currently recovering from their respective injuries. This series presents an opportunity for these replacements to showcase their skills and potentially solidify their positions within the team, especially with the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon.
