Bhuvneshwar Kumar Added To India Squad For Final T20I Against West Indies

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has included experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India’s squad for the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies following an injury concern involving Arshdeep Singh.

The series decider will take place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17, 2026.

The BCCI confirmed that Arshdeep suffered a blow to his bowling shoulder during Wednesday’s fourth T20I in Hyderabad. The team will decide on his availability before the final match, depending on his recovery.

Arshdeep sustained the injury while batting during India’s 248-run chase at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. A bouncer from Shamar Joseph struck his left bowling shoulder in the final over.

Despite attempting to continue, the Indian pacer retired hurt as the West Indies secured a 24-run victory to level the series.

Bhuvneshwar’s inclusion follows his selection for India’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, which begins in Christchurch on October 22.

The 36-year-old last represented India in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at Adelaide Oval in November 2022. His impressive performances in the Indian Premier League over the past two seasons have helped him return to national contention.

Bhuvneshwar claimed 45 wickets across the last two IPL editions for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, contributing significantly to the franchise’s title-winning campaigns. His new-ball skills and international experience have strengthened his case for another opportunity.

India’s squad for the final match comprises Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, 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.

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