Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been recalled to the Indian T20I squad as injury replacements for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand, starting January 21, 2026.
The team management acted quickly after Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar were ruled out with injuries, with the series seen as an important step before the T20 World Cup next month.
Shreyas Iyer replaces Tilak Varma, who is recovering from an abdominal injury he sustained during a domestic tournament. Tilak will miss the first three T20Is and Iyer will only be available for those matches.
Ravi Bishnoi replaces Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out of the entire series. Sundar suffered a side strain during the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11 and will not recover in time.
Iyer’s return is backed by his strong recent form. He impressed during the recent ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa, which helped him press his case for a recall.
The middle-order batsman is expected to add composure and experience, especially in spin-heavy attacks. His ability to rotate the shot and deal with pressure situations remains a key strength.
For India, Iyer’s short-term availability is still important. The first three matches will help the team test combinations before locking in the World Cup squad.
Bishnoi, on the other hand, has been named as a full replacement and will be part of all five T20Is. The leg-spinner offers a clear opportunity to take wickets in the middle overs.
With 61 wickets in 42 T20Is, Bishnoi has shown his ability to break partnerships and control runflow. His pace through the air and sharp turns make him effective on slower throws.
The series carries extra weight as it is India’s last bilateral assignment before the T20 World Cup in February 2026. Performances here could be decisive options if injuries persist.
If Tilak Varma or Washington Sundar fail to recover in time, strong moves from Iyer and Bishnoi could keep them firmly in the selectors’ plans for the World Cup.
The updated squad will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi and others forming the core group.
India will be hoping their replacements settle down quickly as they look to fine-tune their balance against a competitive New Zealand side.
#IND #Shreyas #Iyer #Ravi #Bishnoi #return #injury #replacements #Zealand #T20Is