Bhuvneshwar Kumar Returns in India T20I Squad for New Zealand

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to India’s T20I squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, ending a four-year absence from the national setup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the senior T20I group alongside an India A squad that will play three four-day matches against New Zealand A.

The 36-year-old fast bowler last played an international match for India in a T20I against New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier on November 22, 2022. His recall comes ahead of another series against the same opponent, with India set to begin a 40-day tour on October 22.

The selection decisions were finalised at a meeting held on Tuesday at the ACA Stadium, with interim selection committee head Pragyan Ojha, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and other selectors involved. Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion adds an experienced option to India’s white-ball bowling group for a tour that includes five T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches.

Bhuvneshwar back for five-match T20I series

The T20I series will start in Christchurch before moving through Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. For Bhuvneshwar, the selection marks a return to the format and opposition involved in his last India appearance.

India’s announced T20I squad also includes Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar among the players named in the available squad details.

The tour is described as the largest men’s bilateral cricket series to be held in New Zealand. The T20I leg will be followed by the ODI series from November 4, while the senior team’s ODI and Test squads are due to be announced later.

India’s Test matches are scheduled in Wellington from November 19 to 23 and in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1. Those fixtures will be important in the race for ICC World Test Championship final qualification. The trip will be India’s first Test assignment in New Zealand since 2019 and their first white-ball series in the country since 2022.

Dhruv Jurel to captain India A

Alongside the senior announcement, the BCCI confirmed that Dhruv Jurel will captain India A on their New Zealand tour. India A will play three four-day matches against New Zealand A, beginning on October 24.

Jurel has been named as captain and wicketkeeper in the India A group. The squad named in the available details includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravichandran Smaran, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Manav Suthar, Mukesh Choudhary, Sai Sudarsan, Yash Rathod and Mukesh Kumar, as well as Jurel.

The parallel India A programme gives the selected players a separate red-ball schedule in New Zealand while the senior side begins its multi-format bilateral series. For the senior T20I side, Bhuvneshwar’s return is the headline selection as India prepare for the opening match in Christchurch.