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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 Shreyas Iyer available for first 3 T20Is only; series starts Jan 21 Nagpur
- 2🏆 T20 World Cup 2026 prep: India Group A vs USA, Pakistan; NZ Group D vs Afghanistan
- 3💡 Washington Sundar out with side strain from ODI bowling discomfort
- 4🔮 Replacements vital for India's home WC title push in Feb-March 2026
"Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been added to the squad in the stead of Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar, who were ruled out due to injury."
India have made crucial squad tweaks ahead of their blockbuster five-match T20I series against New Zealand, bringing in Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi to replace the injured Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar. With the T20 World Cup 2026 looming next month, these changes keep the Men in Blue's preparations on track.
Washington Sundar picked up a side strain during the first ODI in Vadodara, reporting discomfort in his lower rib while bowling. Scans confirmed the injury, sidelining the versatile all-rounder for the T20Is starting January 21 in Nagpur. Tilak Varma's injury details remain under wraps, but his absence opens the door for Bishnoi's leg-spin wizardry and Iyer's middle-order firepower—but only for the first three games in Nagpur, Raipur, and Guwahati.
World Cup Momentum at Stake
This series across Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram is prime dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. India kick off in Group A against USA on February 7, facing Pakistan, Namibia, and Netherlands. New Zealand in Group D meet Afghanistan first on February 8. Iyer, absent from T20Is since December 2023, could rediscover his white-ball groove, while Bishnoi adds mystery spin to challenge Kiwi batsmen.
Fans are buzzing—can these replacements fire up the campaign? The action starts in five days, setting the tone for Team India's home World Cup charge.
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