Bhuvneshwar Kumar recalled for India’s New Zealand T20I tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has selected Bhuvneshwar Kumar for its 16-player squad for a five-match T20I series in New Zealand, bringing the fast bowler back to the national side after his last T20I appearance in November 2022, according to reports of the announcement. Shreyas Iyer will captain the team, with Tilak Varma named vice-captain. The squad also includes Varun Chakaravarthy, who returns after missing a previous series because of injury, alongside Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav. The five-match series is scheduled to run from October 22 to November 1, 2026, with matches in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. The reports agree that the opener is scheduled for October 22 in Christchurch and the third match for October 27 in Wellington. They differ over the second match: one account lists October 22, while another gives October 24. The available information does not resolve that discrepancy. The fourth and fifth matches are reported for October 30 in Auckland and November 1 in Hamilton.