India have made late changes to their T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, with Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi added following injury setbacks to key players. The series, which begins on January 21, 2026, is seen as an important preparatory phase ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Injury concerns force squad changes
All-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the entire T20I series after sustaining a side strain during the ODI leg. His absence prompted the selectors to bring in leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who will be available for all five matches.
In addition, Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is as he continues recovery from abdominal surgery. To cover for his unavailability, Shreyas Iyer has been added to the squad for the opening three games of the series.
What Shreyas and Bishnoi bring to the squad
Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion marks his return to India’s T20I setup after a lengthy gap. The middle-order batter has been in strong form in domestic and franchise cricket, and the team management will view the New Zealand series as an opportunity to assess his role ahead of the World Cup.
Ravi Bishnoi adds depth and variation to India’s spin attack. Known for his pace through the air and wicket-taking ability in the middle overs, Bishnoi offers an attacking option alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Updated India T20I squad vs New Zealand
The revised squad for the New Zealand T20I series is as follows:
Suryakumar Yadav (captain)
Abhishek Sharma
Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper)
Shreyas Iyer (first three matches)
Hardik Pandya
Shivam Dube
Axar Patel (vice-captain)
Rinku Singh
Jasprit Bumrah
Harshit Rana
Arshdeep Singh
Kuldeep Yadav
Varun Chakaravarthy
Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)
Ravi Bishnoi
Focus on World Cup preparation
With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, the series against New Zealand provides India with a crucial opportunity to test combinations, manage workloads, and identify match-winners. The additions of Iyer and Bishnoi strengthen the squad’s balance as the team looks to build momentum heading into the global tournament.
