India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has backed the recall of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the national side, saying the veteran pacer brings valuable experience and knows how to succeed in the shortest format. Bhuvneshwar has been included in India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on October 22, 2026, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The 36-year-old seamer’s return ends an absence of 1,425 days from T20I cricket. His previous appearance in the format came on November 22, 2022, and he missed 104 consecutive T20I matches before being recalled as an emergency replacement for the injured Arshdeep Singh ahead of the fifth T20I against West Indies on October 17, 2026. That match was washed out without a ball bowled.
“Bhuvi definitely brings a lot of experience to the team. We were lacking that a little, especially after the IPL. We had a lot of new bowlers. But in T20, if you see his career graph, he has won IPL in the last two years, so he has a very good idea about how to dominate this format,” Iyer said in the pre-match press conference, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Bhuvneshwar’s IPL form was central to his recall. He took 28 wickets from 16 games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, helping the franchise defend their title. India‘s T20I series against West Indies ended in a 2-2 draw after five matches.
Why did Shreyas Iyer highlight New Zealand conditions for Bhuvneshwar?
Iyer pointed to the nature of New Zealand pitches as another reason why Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion made sense. New Zealand conditions are known to assist pace bowling, and Iyer acknowledged that the squad would need time to settle in before the series opener.
“If we look at the conditions here, fast bowling suits the best. And I’ve also been here before. It’s not like the conditions are completely different. But when we played in England, they had prepared wickets according to our batting. On a given day, no one knows how the wicket will be, so we’ll try to acclimatise as soon as possible. And if we have a good practice session, then every individual will get a fair idea about how to plan,” Iyer said.
Bhuvneshwar’s experience of overseas conditions, combined with his recent domestic form, made him a straightforward choice for the management in a format where swing and seam movement can be decisive.
What did Shreyas Iyer say about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s role in the squad?
Alongside Bhuvneshwar’s recall, the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the squad drew attention. Iyer addressed questions about the youngster’s limited opportunities, noting that India’s established openers have been in consistent form and were part of the World Cup-winning side. He also noted the broader benefit of Sooryavanshi travelling with the squad overseas.
“It’s important that a talent like him should always be happy around the dressing room. He is very young. He has more years to get the opportunity. It’s not like he can come and walk in straight away, because our openers are consistently scoring and they have won the World Cup. In a way, if you see, when he is coming overseas, he will get a fair idea how to play in these particular wickets. So, next time whenever he comes in these conditions, he will be very well prepared. In a way, he will also get the motivation that I want to score runs here. He can also instruct other youngsters who will come for the first time,” Iyer said.
On the subject of competition for places within the squad, Iyer acknowledged the challenge of managing a deep group of players.
“It’s good in a way and it motivates the current team members that we have to consistently perform for the team. The most important thing is to win the match. That is the eventual goal. So, I just want to say that it’s a sweet headache, but it’s important for every team, that kind of headache,” Iyer said.
