Veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the Indian cricket team for the upcoming five-match 2026 T20 series against New Zealand, nearly four years after his last international appearance.
The 36-year-old has been named in India’s T20 squad for the New Zealand series, which begins on October 22 and runs until November 1.
Bhuvneshwar last played for India in a T20I against New Zealand in Napier on November 22, 2022. He has not represented the national cricket team in any format since.
The experienced pacer has played 87 T20Is, taking 90 wickets at an average of 23.10 and an economy rate of 6.96. His best figures in the format are 5/4, while he has two five-wicket hauls.
Across all three international formats, Bhuvneshwar has represented India in 229 matches and taken 294 wickets – 63 in Tests, 141 in ODIs and 90 in T20Is.
Varun Chakaravarthy also returns to the India T20 squad after an injury kept him out of India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
Shreyas Iyer will continue to lead India, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are also part of the batting group.
India have several pace options alongside Bhuvneshwar, with Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav named in the squad. All-rounders Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy provide further seam-bowling options.
Kuldeep Yadav joins Varun in the specialist spin department, while Axar Patel and Naman Dhir are also included.
Jasprit Bumrah has not been named in the IND vs NZ T20 squad for the five-match series.
India will begin the series in Christchurch on October 22.
India squad for New Zealand T20 2026
Indian cricket team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.
