Why Arshdeep Singh And Varun Chakaravarthy Are Not Playing In 3rd T20I Against New Zealand?

World No. 1 T20I bowler Varun Chakaravarthy and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh are not playing for India in the third T20I against New Zealand on Sunday, January 25. According to India’s T20I captain Suryakumar

Yadav, Varun and Arshdeep are resting for the 20-over match taking place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Arshdeep led India’s bowling attack in the second T20I on Friday (January 23) but conceded 53 runs in his quota of four overs, whereas Varun dismissed one Kiwi batter in the fixture India won by 7 wickets.

In Arshdeep’s place Jasprit Bumrah is playing in Guwahati, and Ravi Bishnoi has replaced Varun in the playing XI.

“Two changes. Arshdeep and Varun resting tonight, Bumrah and Bishnoi come in,” Surya said at the toss.

A look at #TeamIndia‘s Playing XI for the 3⃣rd T20I 🙌

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/YzRfqi0li2#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/axppAoL98g

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2026

25-year-old Bishnoi, who has dismissed 61 batters in 42 T20I matches played so far, last featured in a T20I match for the Men in Blue on February 2, 2025, against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

On the other hand, for the must-win match, Kiwis have made one change to their playing XI. Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson is playing in place of Zak Foulkes, who conceded 67 runs in his quota of three overs in the 2nd T20I.

According to New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham was set to play Sunday’s match in Guwahati, but he is crooked.

“Neesh (Jimmy Neesham) was going to play, but he’s crooked; we’ve brought in Jamieson for Foulkes,” Santner said.

Playing XIs

India: Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

India to bowl first

Suryakumar Yadav has won the toss in the third T20I and opted to field first. In the second T20I as well, Surya won the toss and invited the Kiwis to bat first.

In the second T20I match, India conceded 208 runs in 20 overs but successfully managed to chase down the target of 209 runs in 15.2 overs for the loss of only three wickets.

The third T20I between India and New Zealand in Guwahati is a must-win for the Kiwis because if they lose this match as well, then India will take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ongoing five-match series.