Srinagar: India have added experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to their squad for the fifth T20I against West Indies after Arshdeep Singh sustained an injury to his bowling shoulder during the fourth match in Hyderabad.
The Men’s Selection Committee has named Bhuvneshwar Kumar as a replacement option for the series finale, scheduled to be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17, 2026.
Arshdeep suffered a blow to his bowling shoulder during the fourth T20I against West Indies on Wednesday. His availability for the final match remains uncertain, with a decision expected to be taken closer to the game after assessing his recovery.
The addition of Bhuvneshwar provides India with an experienced pace-bowling option as the team prepares for the concluding match of the five-game series.
Known for his ability to swing the ball and deliver effectively in the powerplay and at the death, Bhuvneshwar brings considerable international experience to the squad. His inclusion also gives the team management additional options should Arshdeep be ruled out of the Bengaluru fixture.
India will monitor Arshdeep’s condition before making a final call on his participation. For now, the left-arm pacer’s availability for the fifth T20I remains subject to his recovery.
India’s Updated Squad for the Fifth T20I Against West Indies
Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Naman Dhir and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
India will take on West Indies in the fifth T20I at Bengaluru on October 17, with Arshdeep’s fitness likely to remain a key factor in the team’s final bowling combination.
