Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi added to India’s T20I squad; Washington Sundar ruled out

With the 2026 T20 World Cup fast approaching, India’s selectors have had to act quickly and decisively in response to recent setbacks. The home series against New Zealand led to a spate of injuries, prompting the BCCI to announce major changes: Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi were drafted in to strengthen the squad.

The most important challenge comes from Washington Sundar’s injury. During the first ODI in Vadodara on January 11, Sundar experienced severe pain in his lower ribs while bowling. Later scans confirmed a side strain; This was a troubling injury for any bowler. Sundar will now undergo rehabilitation at the BCCI Center of Excellence. His absence not only affects the team’s all-round talent but also disrupts the overall balance of the T20 squad. With the tournament opener set for February 7, uncertainty grows about his eligibility. To solve this problem, Ravi Bishnoi was called in and joined Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy to ensure India’s return attack remained formidable.

In another development, Shreyas Iyer returns to the squad for the first three T20Is in place of Tilak Varma. Varma, who impressed in his last outings, has been sidelined while recovering from surgery following a testicular torsion that he sustained in the domestic circuit. Iyer’s inclusion will bring valuable experience to India’s middle order, which has been inconsistent in recent matches. His calm yet aggressive approach could provide much-needed stability, especially as Suryakumar Yadav continues to consolidate the batting line-up. These changes offer the team the opportunity to fine-tune combinations ahead of the World Cup.

Here is India’s revised T20I squad for the series starting January 21 in Nagpur:

Captain: Suryakumar Yadav

Vice-Captain: Axar Patel

Batsmen: Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (first three matches), Rinku Singh

Gatekeepers: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan

All-rounder: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi

Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana

With less than a month to go before India hosts the World Cup alongside Sri Lanka, the medical team at the Center of Excellence is facing a race against time to get Sundar and Varma ready for the opener of the tournament. The countdown is on for cricket’s biggest T20 spectacle.

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