Shreyas Iyer Returns After 2 Years as BCCI Names Injury Replacements for New Zealand T20Is

• What happened: Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma are ruled out of the upcoming India vs New Zealand T20I series due to injuries; Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer have been named as replacements.
• Why it matters now: India’s squad faces last-minute changes ahead of crucial matches, impacting team balance and T20 World Cup preparations.
• What changes for people: Fans can expect Shreyas Iyer back in action after 2 years, while India adapts to new player dynamics in Nagpur.
• Who is affected: The Indian cricket team, selectors, fans, and coaching staff monitoring squad fitness and strategy.

Nagpur: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on January 16, 2026, that all-rounder Washington Sundar will miss the five-match T20I series against New Zealand due to a side strain. Sundar reported discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling in the first ODI on January 11 at Vadodara, underwent scans, and was advised rest for a few days.

As a result, the BCCI Men’s Selection Committee has named Ravi Bishnoi as Sundar’s replacement. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who last featured in a T20I in 2023 against Australia, will join the squad for the first three matches, replacing the injured Tilak Varma, who recently underwent surgery for an abdominal issue.

India’s revised squad for New Zealand T20Is

Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
Vice-Captain: Axar Patel
Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan
Batters & All-rounders: Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi

Impact on T20 World Cup preparations

The injuries mark a disruptive start to India’s T20 World Cup campaign, forcing the team to recalibrate strategies. While Varma is recovering well post-surgery, Sundar will undergo further assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE).

Cricket analysts note that Iyer’s return after a two-year T20I hiatus provides a significant boost to India’s middle-order batting, adding experience and stability ahead of key fixtures.