India have made a change to their squad ahead of the fifth and final T20I against West Indies, with experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar drafted in as a replacement for the injured Arshdeep Singh. The series decider is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where the Indian team will look to field its strongest available combination.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar drafted into India’s squad for series decider
Bhuvneshwar has been called up to the Indian T20I squad after Arshdeep suffered a painful blow to his bowling shoulder while batting during the fourth match against the West Indies. The incident occurred late in India’s chase when the left-arm pacer faced a short delivery from Shamar Joseph.
The injury raised concerns about Arshdeep’s availability for the series finale. Although he initially attempted to continue batting after being struck, captain Shreyas Iyer eventually asked him to retire out to prevent the injury from worsening. Arshdeep is currently receiving treatment, including ice therapy, but his participation in the Bengaluru encounter remains highly uncertain.
With the fifth T20I set to decide the series, India’s management has moved quickly to strengthen its pace-bowling resources. Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion provides the team with an experienced alternative as it prepares for the final contest. The veteran fast bowler was added to the squad on October 16, giving India an additional option ahead of the decisive fixture at one of the country’s most prominent cricket venues.
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IPL 2026 performance helped Bhuvneshwar earn recall
Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion comes at an important stage in his return to the Indian national setup. The 36-year-old had already secured a recall for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on October 22, after spending nearly four years away from the national team.
His impressive performances in the Indian Premier League played a significant role in bringing him back into contention. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the right-arm seamer claimed 28 wickets during the IPL season, strengthening his case for another opportunity at the international level.
His familiarity with Bengaluru also worked in India’s favour. Bhuvneshwar was already training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in the city, allowing the selectors to bring him into the squad without requiring him to travel from another location.
His return gives India an experienced pace option for the series decider while also providing an opportunity to regain match involvement before the New Zealand assignment.
India squad for 5th T20I (updated): Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan [WK], Sanju Samson [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Naman Dhir, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
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