Trending
India have added experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar to their squad for the fifth and final T20I against West Indies. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh remains doubtful after suffering a shoulder-area injury during the fourth match.
The interim selection committee, chaired by Pragyan Ojha, included Bhuvneshwar as cover for the series decider.
Arshdeep sustained the injury while batting during India’s chase in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. A delivery from West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph struck him on the biceps.
The incident occurred late in the innings, forcing Arshdeep to retire hurt on what turned out to be the final ball of the match.
According to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) release, officials will assess Arshdeep’s recovery before deciding whether he can play the final T20I.
Bhuvneshwar recently underwent a fitness assessment at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Since then, he has increased his bowling workload as he prepares for India’s upcoming T20I tour of New Zealand.
Pakistan’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Rise by $16 Million to $26.86 Billion
The 36-year-old last represented India in November 2022. However, selectors recalled him to the national T20I squad last week for the New Zealand series.
He most recently played in the UPT20 League in September. In addition, his performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have strengthened his case for a return to international cricket.
During IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar claimed 28 wickets in 16 matches. He finished second on the tournament’s wicket-takers’ list, behind Purple Cap winner Kagiso Rabada.
Arshdeep has played in all four T20Is against West Indies, taking five wickets. Therefore, his possible absence could leave India with fewer specialist fast-bowling options for the decider.
Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav are the other frontline fast bowlers in the squad. Meanwhile, all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube offer additional seam-bowling options.
The fitness concern comes as India prepare to leave for New Zealand on Sunday for their upcoming T20I series. At the same time, selectors are monitoring several fast bowlers in the ODI squad, including Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana.
India could also release some players from the ODI squad early. This would allow them to prepare for the two-match Test series that follows.
Shreyas Iyer (captain)
Abhishek Sharma
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)
Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper)
Tilak Varma
Shivam Dube
Kuldeep Yadav
Axar Patel
Ravi Bishnoi
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Arshdeep Singh
Prince Yadav
Mayank Yadav
Naman Dhir
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
