Middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer has been recalled to the Indian T20I squad for the first three matches of the five-game home series against New Zealand,
in a significant boost ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The 31-year-old last played a T20I for India in December 2023. His inclusion comes as a replacement for the injured Tilak Varma, who is expected to miss the early games due to an abdominal issue but remains in contention for the later matches.
Iyer brings valuable experience to the middle order. In 51 T20 Internationals, he has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66, including eight half-centuries.
In another change, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has been added to the squad in place of all-rounder Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out of the entire series with a shoulder injury picked up during training. Bishnoi, 25, has taken 61 wickets in 42 T20Is at an impressive economy rate of 7.35, offering crucial spin control and variations.
Tilak suffered a testicular torsion and underwent surgery, which has kept him out of action. On the other hand, Washington Sundar got ruled out after a side strain in the first ODI against New Zealand. The duo are also in the squad for the T20 World Cup and their participation remains a question for now.
India updated T20I Squad vs NZ
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.
The series begins on January 21 in Chennai, followed by games in Pune (Jan 23), Rajkot (Jan 25), Hyderabad (Jan 28), and Bengaluru (Jan 30). This home assignment serves as India's final major preparation before the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
