India vs New Zealand T20I Series: The Indian team is also scheduled to play a five-match T20 series against New Zealand at home, starting January 21st. Two major changes have been made to the Indian squad for this T20 series. All-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out due to injury, while Tilak Varma will also miss the first three T20 matches.
Star batsman Shreyas Iyer and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi have now been included in the Indian team for this T20 series. Ravi Bishnoi has replaced Washington Sundar in the squad for all five matches. Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, will be available for the first three T20 matches as a replacement for middle-order batsman Tilak Varma.
The first match of the ongoing three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand was played on January 11th at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. During the match, Washington Sundar experienced sudden pain in his lower ribs while bowling, forcing him to leave the field. A subsequent scan revealed a side strain. He has been advised to rest for a few days. Once he recovers, he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE), where, after being declared fit, he will rejoin the Indian team.
“Washington Sundar underwent scans after reporting an acute onset discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on 11 January. This was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) mentioned in a statement.
“He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of his injury. The all-rounder has been ruled out of the upcoming IDFC First Bank T20I series against New Zealand," ,” the statement added.
Shreyas Iyer's Returns to T20I Team After Two Years
Right-handed batter Shreyas Iyer has returned to the Indian T20 team after two years. Shreyas last played a T20I match against Australia in December 2023. He has so far scored 1104 runs in 51 T20I matches at an average of 30.66, including 8 half-centuries. If Tilak Varma is not fully fit, Shreyas could also be included in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
Meanwhile, Ravi Bishnoi was once one of India's most impactful spinners in the T20 format. His aggressive bowling style, especially in the middle overs, helps put pressure on the batsmen. Bishnoi's return will strengthen the Indian spin department, and he can form a formidable combination, particularly alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Bishnoi last played a T20 match for India against England in February 2025. He has so far taken 61 wickets in 42 T20Is for India.
India’s Updated T20I Squad: 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.
T20 Series Schedule
First T20 - January 21, 2026 - VCA Stadium - Nagpur
Second T20 - January 23, 2026 - SVNS International Stadium - Raipur
Third T20 - January 25, 2026 - Barsapara Stadium - Guwahati
Fourth T20 - January 28, 2026 - ACA-VDCA Stadium - Visakhapatnam
Fifth T20 - January 31, 2026 - Greenfield Stadium - Thiruvananthapuram.
