India T20I Squad for New Zealand 2026: Bhuvneshwar Returns

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Recalled After Four Years as India Name T20I Squad for New Zealand

Who captains India?

Shreyas Iyer leads a 16-player squad, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain.

What is the big selection story?

Swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 36, is back in India's T20I squad for the first time since November 2022, a gap of almost four years.

Who is missing?

Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the T20Is so he is fresh for the ODIs and Tests that follow on the same tour.

When does the series start?

The first of five T20Is is on Thursday, October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch (8:00 PM local, 12:30 PM IST, 3:00 AM ET).

The Story: A Familiar Face for the First Leg of a Long Tour

India have named their squad for the opening leg of the biggest tour New Zealand has ever hosted. The trip runs to 12 matches in all, with five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests, and it begins with the T20Is on October 22.

For readers new to the format: a T20 International (T20I) is the shortest form of international cricket. Each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), and a match lasts about three hours. A squad is the full travelling group, and the playing eleven for each match is picked from it.

This squad is for the T20Is only. The selectors will name the ODI and Test squads later, which is why some big names are missing here.

There is extra spice to the series too. India beat New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, so the hosts get five chances at revenge on their own grounds.

The Selection Talking Points

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Is Back

The headline call is the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He last played a T20I in November 2022, on India's previous T20I tour of New Zealand, so his comeback will happen in the same country where his last spell for India ended.

He has earned it the hard way. Bhuvneshwar took 28 wickets in IPL 2026 at an economy rate of 7.95 (meaning he gave away under eight runs per over) as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defended their title.

His international record is strong as well: 90 wickets in 87 T20Is. Bhuvneshwar is a swing bowler, which means he makes the ball curve in the air rather than relying on raw speed. New Zealand's cool, breezy evenings usually help that style, so the recall fits the conditions.

Bumrah Rested With Bigger Games Ahead

Jasprit Bumrah, India's leading fast bowler, sits out the T20Is. This is workload management, a planned break to protect a player's body during a crowded calendar. He helped India win Asian Games gold only days ago, and the selectors want him fresh for the ODIs and the two Tests that come later in the tour.

Chakaravarthy Returns From Injury

Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy is fit again and back in the squad. He is often called a "mystery spinner" because batters find it hard to tell which way the ball will turn. He joins Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Axar Patel in a strong spin group.

The Pace Group Around Bhuvneshwar

With Bumrah resting, the fast bowling is led by left-armer Arshdeep Singh, alongside Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav. All three are part of India's attack in the current home T20Is against West Indies, so they will arrive in New Zealand with recent match practice.

A Settled Core

The selectors have mostly kept faith with the group that has been playing T20Is for India. Shreyas Iyer continues as captain, Tilak Varma stays on as his deputy, and teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi keeps his place alongside Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson at the top of the order.

The Full India T20I Squad

(c) captain, (vc) vice-captain. 16 players in total.

📄 Download the India T20I squad and schedule as a PDF to save or share.

Players to Watch

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The comeback story of the tour. If the ball swings early, his first two overs could shape each match.

Shreyas Iyer (c): Leads the side in conditions that are very different from home, with bigger bounce and often a strong wind to manage.

Abhishek Sharma: India's attacking left-handed opener. Grounds like Eden Park in Auckland have short boundaries, which suits his game.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The teenage opener gets his first taste of New Zealand pitches, a real test of technique against the moving ball.

Varun Chakaravarthy: Back from injury and a key wicket-taker through the middle overs.

Arshdeep Singh: The senior fast bowler in Bumrah's absence, trusted with the new ball and the final overs.

T20I Series Schedule (Local, IST and ET)

All five matches start at 8:00 PM New Zealand time. US clocks go back one hour on Sunday, November 1, so the last match starts an hour earlier for viewers in the Eastern time zone.

Local time is New Zealand Daylight Time (UTC+13). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Time. Every start falls on the same calendar date in all three zones.

After the T20Is, the tour continues with five ODIs from November 4 and two Tests from November 19.

Stat Corner

Bhuvneshwar Kumar by the Numbers

The Squad at a Glance

ndia in New Zealand

India have not lost any of their last seven T20Is in New Zealand, a run that began with a 5-0 series sweep in 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is India's captain for the T20Is in New Zealand?

Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain.

Why is Jasprit Bumrah not in the squad?

He has been rested from the T20Is to manage his workload. He is expected to be available for the ODIs and Tests later in the tour.

When did Bhuvneshwar Kumar last play a T20I for India?

In November 2022. His recall comes almost four years later, after he took 28 wickets in IPL 2026.

How many T20Is are India playing in New Zealand?

Five, from October 22 to November 1, in Christchurch (two matches), Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.

What time do the matches start in India?

Every T20I starts at 12:30 PM IST, which is 8:00 PM in New Zealand.

Has the ODI and Test squad been announced?

Not yet. This squad is for the T20Is only, and the ODI and Test squads will be named later.

Related Guides and Series Coverage

📋 12 Matches, 3 Formats: India's Blockbuster 2026 Tour of New Zealand

📋 India Win Asian Games Gold: Did Dropped Catches Cost Pakistan the Final?

📋 T20 Cricket Explained: Rules, Format and How It Works

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